WorksheetsWest African Kingdoms: GHANA
Total questions: 26
Worksheet time: 15mins
What physical characteristics of camels make them particularly well suited for long trips across the hot desert?
splayed feet that enable them to walk on the hot sands without sinking
days without any water
they are mammals
they can carry heavy amounts of gold and salt
the shape of their neck
Where did the first humans live?
Northern Africa
Europe
eastern and southern Africa
America
Why were traders willing to risk crossing the dangerous Sahara?
traders were creating civilizations in the Sahara
traders could become very wealthy from trading the goods they gathered
to get to an oasis
they did not cross the Sahara
What role did the trans-Saharan caravans have on changing the culture of the Empire of Ghana?
cultural diffusion
there was no influence on culture, only the economy was changed through trade
caravans influenced how the Ghanaians would have dressed, eaten, and lived their lives
How did the West African empires build their wealth?
through the domestication and selling of camels
by conquering other civilizations in Africa
controlling gold mines and trade routes
through enslaving people
by producing illuminated manuscripts
Why was gold considered valuable?
durability
rarity
beauty
malleability
all of the above
In addition to gold, what other commodities were transported along African trade routes?
Iron
ivory
textiles
spices
all of the above
Why are the origins of Ghana unclear to historians today?
the history was recorded incorrectly
the history is clear to historians
oral tradition
texts written by Arab merchants
How specifically did the kings and kingdom of Ghana become so wealthy?
taxes collected from merchants
gold nuggets
location of mines were kept secret
all of the above
What made Ghana a strong and powerful empire?
salt and gold trade
a powerful army
a great king and leaders
the domestication of camels
How did medieval African societies differ from medieval European societies? What contributed to this difference?
Plague
Africa became more prosperous through increased contact and trade
Warfare
In Europe, power and trade shrank
What natural resources were found in the kingdom of Ghana?
Gold
Salt
All of these
ivory
iron ore
What new religion was brought to Ghana?
Judaism
Islam
Christianity
Hinduism
What roles did the king of Ghana play in ruling the empire?
none of these
controlled trade
made important decisions
filled government roles
What tasks did working-class people carry out in Kumbi Saleh?
created roads and new trade routes
agricultural duties
built the royal palace and public buildings
cared for the camels in Kumbi Salih
What is animism?
the belief that humans are all connected to an animal
the belief that animals are the superior beings
the belief that animals are sacred
the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence
How did Ghana change between the 700s and 1200s CE?
Ghana experienced the 200 year war
Ghana became more powerful than ever
Ghana became an islamic society
Ghana had a large decline in population due to illness
Why was salt so valuable to the traders?
essential nutrient for the human body
dried out/ preserve meat
seasoning and flavor for food
used for money and building houses
key source of wealth
Which commodity helped Ghana expand its empire through conquests?
iron
gold
salt
camels
What are the reasons why the Ghana Empire fell?
changing weather patterns
invaded and defeated by the Susu tribe
lack of economic prosperity
Which desert stretches across northern Africa?
there is no desert in Africa
the oasis
the Savannah
Sahara Desert
What type of government was present in the West African kingdoms?
Monarchy-ruled by a king or royal family
Democracy
Republic
Dictatorship
From which city did traders take a route to Egypt?
Gao
Walata
Timbuktu
Awdaghust
What was one effect of the trans-Saharan trade?
People in North Africa ended the slave trade
People in West Africa converted to Islam
Demand for gold decreased in Europe
Demand for salt increased in Asia
What were the original religious beliefs of people living in the Ghana Empire?
They believed that plants and animals were sacred
They believed that the king was the son of a god
They believed that all people should visit Mecca
They believed that Muhammad was a prophet
Which detail from the map supports the conclusion that Kumbi Saleh was the most important city in Ghana?
It was close to an ocean
It was near the Volta River
It was at the edge of the Sahara
It was at the center of several trade routes
