WorksheetsWest Africa
Total questions: 45
Worksheet time: 27mins
This is a map of Africa. What letter marks the location of the Niger River?
A
B
C
D
This is a map of Africa. Which number correctly identifies the location of the Sahara Desert?
1
2
3
4
This is a map of Africa. Which number indicates the location of the savanna?
1
2
3
4
This map shows the locations of various mines and trade routes across western and northern Africa. Based on the map, what natural feature would have likely assisted western African traders?
Lake Chad
Lake Victoria
Niger River
Nile River
This chart describes several of the geographic features of Africa.
Which term best completes this chart?
bush
Patagonia
Sahel
tundra
This is a map of Africa. Which number correctly identifies the Atlantic Ocean?
3
1
4
2
How are Djenne and Timbuktu similar?
They are both former capitals of the Ottoman Empire.
They are both historical centers of trade in West Africa.
They are both holy cities according to Jewish traditions.
They are both located on the Silk Road.
This is a map of Africa. Which number correctly identifies the Gulf of Guinea?
4
3
2
1
This is a map of Africa and Southwest Asia. Which number correctly identifies the city of Djenne?
2
3
1
4
This map shows some of the trade routes in West Africa. What conclusion can be drawn from this map?
West Africa was isolated by the Sahara Desert and had little contact with other civilizations.
Rivers (such as the Niger), natural resources, and trade routes made it possible for civilizations in West Africa to prosper.
Trade in West Africa was limited since the area lacked effective ways to transport goods.
West Africa lacked lucrative natural resources and had to make products such as textiles to trade.
What was one aspect of traditional African religions?
ancestor worship
caste system
daily Bible study
pilgrimage to Mecca
This is a quote from The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Ecology by Roger Gottlieb. Based in this quote, the traditional religions of Africa are based on which religious concept?
animism
humanism
monotheism
polytheism
Why do believers of traditional African religions practice ancestor worship?
They believe that the spirits of ancestors live on in wild animals.
They believe that shrines allow the spirits of ancestors to enter the afterlife.
They believe that illnesses can harm the spirits of ancestors.
They believe that the spirits of ancestors can directly impact daily life.
How do the people of many West African religions pay respect to the spirits?
They create missions in other civilizations.
They go on military crusades.
They present gifts to their ancestors.
They pray several times a day.
How does religion impact most traditional African societies?
It decreases the importance of past generations.
It forces people to repeat complex prayers.
It explains the causes of many issues faced in daily life.
It prevents the creation of social hierarchies.
Which of the following best describes the relationship between people and their ancestors in traditional African religions?
People worshiped their ancestors so they would bring them good fortune and not curse them
People consulted their ancestors to make important political decisions
People engaged in spiritual warfare with their ancestors to steal their power
People honored tried to live good lives so their ancestors would be proud of them from heaven
How did the kingdoms of Western Africa maintain control over the wealth brought through the salt and gold trades?
They decreased the costs of gold and salt mining by using slave labor.
They depended on donations and tributes given to the government by the wealthiest families.
They taxed all trade that came in and out of the region.
They conquered all neighboring civilizations to take complete control of the resources.
How did the West African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai gain influence in Asia and Europe?
They spread Islam into Europe and Asia.
They spread the bubonic plague into Europe and Asia.
They controlled the salt and gold trades.
They controlled the silk and porcelain trades.
What conclusion can be made about the relationship between traders, the Songhai Empire, and the cities of Timbuktu and Gao?
North African traders did not travel near cities or major civilizations.
Most large cities developed independently of major civilizations.
Traders could not access the North African cities, causing them to fail.
Civilization and cities grew in areas frequented by traders and caravans.
This map shows the locations of various mines and trade routes across western and northern Africa. What is the relationship between the locations of Africa's mines and trade routes?
The locations of mines are not related to trade routes.
Mines developed to support the movements of traders.
Trade routes made mining more dangerous.
Trade routes developed to connect mines.
What had the greatest influence on law in the Songhai Empire?
Christianity
democratic ideas
family status
Islam
Why was the city of Timbuktu important to the early civilizations of West Africa?
It was a trading center located in the Niger River.
It was the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
It was where Islam started.
It was a military base.
Why did the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai develop in West Africa?
Religious conflicts divided the region.
Political turmoil weakened the economy of the region.
Rare resources increased trade in the region.
Foreign explorers created colonies in the region.
What caused a decline in Songhai's trade industry?
Their trade goods were no longer valuable.
The rulers of Songhai were not Muslim.
Bandits made trade unsafe in Songhai.
Atlantic port cities became the new centers of trade.
Use the photograph to answer the question. The photograph shows the influence of which religion on the Mali Empire?
Buddhism
Christianity
Islam
Judaism
What contributed most to the growth and power of the West African empires of Ghana and Mali?
iron mining
caravan trade
plantation agriculture
textile manufacturing
Why would African cities like Timbuktu and Djenne be relatively diverse?
Merchants from different cultures were able to exchange goods and ideas.
The slave trade resulted in many different groups of people living together.
They are located near many different cultural groups, creating diversity.
They attracted groups of religious pilgrims looking for a new settlement.
How did religion impact trans-Saharan trade?
Traders followed Islamic laws.
Traders spread Hindu ideas.
Traders paid taxes to Buddhist leaders.
Traders preached Confucian teachings.
Why were camel trains popular in West Africa?
Camels were more expensive than mules.
Camels were faster than horses.
Camels could carry gold in their humps.
Camels could survive the harsh desert conditions.
Which characteristic best reflects the influence of Islam on Western African kingdoms?
the emphasis on studying mathematics, science, and medicine
the adoption of the Arabic language
the use of camels as a method of trans-Saharan transportation
the development of the gold and salt trade network
What caused the economies of the African civilizations of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai to grow?
the salt and gold trade
the fishing trade on the Niger River
the ivory trade
the iron trade on the Mediterranean
What was one effect of the trans-Saharan caravan trade during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries?
increased European control of West Africa
the spread of Islam throughout West Africa
the decline of slavery in West African societies
decreased power for rulers of West African kingdoms
Which important role in West African society is described as a storyteller who passed down oral history and traditions?
actor
griot
miner
trader
Why are griots important figures in traditional African societies?
They are responsible for creating new trade partnerships.
They are responsible for passing down traditions and histories through storytelling.
They are responsible for creating and enforcing new laws.
They are responsible for assigning laborers to important jobs.
How did the griot function in West African civilizations?
They led armies.
They advocated for women's rights
They taught economics.
They preserved history.
Why is Mansa Musa important to the history of West Africa?
He brought Islam to the region.
He brought democracy to the region.
He increased the value of salt.
He bred camels for desert travel.
This map shows the journey of Mansa Musa in 1324. Why did he make this journey?
to solidify trade relations
to complete a religious pilgrimage
to conquer new lands
to develop new technologies
Other than fulfilling one of the Five Pillars of Islam, what was another reason why Mansa Musa made the pilgrimage from Mali to Mecca?
to show the wealth of Mali
to end the trade of gold
to protect the borders of Mali
to spread traditional religions
This is an ancient painting of Mansa Musa. Based on the image of Mansa Musa, what are two things that were important to people living during his time?
architecture and Christianity
gold and Islam
trade and Judaism
waterways and Hinduism
What was an effect of Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca on the Kingdom of Mali?
Islam spread throughout the kingdom, and schools and mosques were built to educate the people.
A long era of peace began, and the kingdom continued to grow for many years after Mansa Musa's death.
Trade networks decreased, and other kingdoms stopped trading with Mali.
The kingdom declined, and Mansa Musa lost power.
The kingdom declined, and Mansa Musa lost power.
What conclusion can be made about the relationship between traders, the Songhai Empire, and the cities of Timbuktu and Gao?
North African traders did not travel near cities or major civilizations.
Most large cities developed independently of major civilizations.
Traders could not access the North African cities, causing them to fail.
Civilization and cities grew in areas frequented by traders and caravans.
Which of the following best describes the influence of geography on the history of Southwest Asia and North Africa?
Large bodies of water gave access to trade routes to provide items that could not be found in the desert
Dense junges kept societies trapped near the coastal plains
Nearby seas provided plenty of water for irrigation for diverse crops
Long cold winters and long hot summers prevented the development of agriculture
Which of the following was NOT a consequence of the Ottoman conquest of the Byzantine Empire?
Eastern Europe became vulnerable to Ottoman attacks
Christianity and Judaism were made illegal
Hagia Sophia was transformed into a mosque
Constantinople was renamed Istanbul
Muslim art focused on the repetition of:
the images of animals
the images of humans
geometric shapes
minarets
Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam is an example of what type of belief system?
atheism
monotheism
non-theism
polytheism
