Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Early Africa

Total questions: 42

Worksheet time: 21mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The wealth of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai was based on what?

a)

Raiding other tribes

b)

The gold and salt trade

c)

Trade in ostriches and elephant tusks

d)

Trading iron weapons and tools

2.

Which city was famous for being a trade center?

a)

Timbuktu

b)

Djenne

c)

Walata

d)

Gao

3.
What is written language used for in a civilization?
a)
To record laws, history, stories, etc.
b)
To establish a government
c)
To control food production
d)
To create art and architecture
4.

Which of the following shows evidence of a Stable Food Supply?

a)

Hanging Gardens

b)

Many gods with human personalities

c)

Taxes

d)

An irrigation system with canals and levees

5.

Which of the following shows evidence of a government in Sumer?

a)

Clay tablets with cuneiform

b)

Technology such as the plow

c)

Images of a king collecting taxes

d)

Ziggurats

6.

Which of the following is NOT a necessary characteristic of a civilization?

a)

Religion

b)

Writing

c)

Education

d)

Government

7.

Creative and cultural expression such as music, dance, and painting

a)

Trade

b)

Arts

c)

Written Language and Learning

d)

Religion

8.

Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for pharaohs. Which characteristic does this demonstrate?

a)

social structure

b)

written language

c)

stable food supply

d)

arts and entertainment

9.

In 450 BCE, 12 bronze tablets were used to record Roman laws. Which characteristic does this demonstrate?

a)

government

b)

religion

c)

stable food supply

d)

arts and entertainment

10.

Which characteristic does this photo (wheel) demonstrate?

a)

written language

b)

religion

c)

stable food supply

d)

technology

11.

Which characteristic does this photo (sewer system) demonstrate?

a)

technology

b)

written language

c)

government

d)

arts and entertainment

12.

This desert stretches 3,000 miles west to east, 1,200 miles north to south, and is the largest desert in the world

a)

Kalahari Desert

b)

Death Valley

c)

Sahara Desert

d)

Namib Desert

13.

In the desert, 6,000 feet below the surface are aquifers that hold water. When the water is able to rise and reach the surface, this creates a what?

a)

Lake

b)

Oasis

c)

Sink Hole

d)

Ocean

14.

This region receives the most rainfall in Africa. It sits near the equator and has a very dense vegetation of trees, plants, and leaves that cause and "umbrella" over the ground.

a)

Desert

b)

Grassland

c)

Rainforest

d)

Sahel

15.

The process of the expansion of dry conditions into moist areas next to deserts from human activity and nature is known as what?

a)

Deforestation

b)

Tilling

c)

Desertification

d)

Sahelification

16.

What is the transition zone between the Sahara and Savanna called?

a)

Sahel

b)

Kalahari

c)

Sahara

d)

Tropical Rainforest

17.

In West Africa between about 500 and 16000 C.E., Ghana, Songhai, and Mali were three______ that arose.

a)

states

b)

kingdoms

c)

countries

d)

religions

18.

Why are historians unable to study written sources from early West African societies?

a)
The historians were not interested in studying early West African societies.
b)
The written sources were destroyed by natural disasters.
c)
The early West African societies did not want their written records to be studied.
d)
There were no written records in early West African societies.
19.

The ares of semidesert that is both south of the Sahara and has mild vegetations is called the

a)

Jenne

b)

Sahel

c)

Savana

d)

Niger

20.

What are the Nok people from West Africa during 500 B.C.E., know for?

a)

mastering ironworking

b)

fishing with thin wire

c)

building with concrete

d)

forming the first cities

21.

What was one benefit of becoming part of an empire in Early West Africa?

a)

Men were required to serve in the king's army.

b)

Conquered peopel were required to give tribute.

c)

kings provided protection for conquered territory.

d)

Kings sometimes sent governors to rule the land.

22.

The 3 kingdoms that were a part of the gold-salt trade?

a)

Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

b)

Ghana, Songhai, and Persia

c)

Ghana, Mali, and Timbuktu

d)

Ghana, Songhai, and Rome

23.

How did Ghana grow into a rich empire?

a)

Salt and Silver

b)

Gold and Salt

c)

Salt and Diamonds

d)

Gold and Sand

24.

Which characteristic of the Mali Empire is most closely associated with this image?

a)

trade with North Africa

b)

training wild animals for celebrations

c)

a powerful military

d)

wealth obtained from gold mines

25.
These people told the history and folktales of Africa before they began writing it down. 
a)
Griots
b)
Prophets
c)
Diviners
d)
Savages
26.

What is a tribute?

a)

A payment made to avoid fighting

b)

To glorify a warrior after a battle was won.

c)

To give praise to God.

d)

A ruler of a an early kingdom

27.

The time before written history is called:

a)

prehistory

b)

circa

c)

timeline

d)

chronological

28.

What does the term "Culture" refer to?

a)

The scientific study of the Earth and its features.

b)

The language, customs, ideas, and art of a particular group of people.

c)

The historical events that shaped a country.

29.
What is a caravan?
a)

a group of merchants and camels crossing the desert

b)

a clan of people living in the mountains

c)

a North African family of nomads

d)

a port city that engages in trading

30.

What is a cash crop?

a)

Food that expires quickly

b)

A valuable food source

c)

Something grown to sell

d)

Crops that are shipped to foreign countries

31.

Which is a cash crop?

a)

Potatos

b)

Peanuts

c)

Sugarcane

d)

Cabbage

32.

An original, handmade object from the past is called...

a)

a fossil

b)

an artifact

c)

a document

d)

a replica

33.

Which year comes before 562 BC?

a)

680 BC

b)

510 BC

c)

480 CE

d)

AD 520

34.

An ___ is a state containing several countries or territories. 

a)

country

b)

continent

c)

empire

d)

state

35.

What is the only flying mammal?

a)

Bat

b)

Flying Squirrel

c)

Bald Eagle

d)

Owl

36.

What is a group of lions called?

a)

cattle

b)

a pride

c)

a flock

d)

a cluster

37.

Who's face is on the dime?

a)

Lincoln

b)

Roosevelt

c)

Jefferson

d)

Washington

38.

Which one is not a wonder of the world?

a)

Taj Mahal

b)

Statue of Liberty

c)

Great Wall of China

d)

Grand Canyon

39.

What is the national bird of India?

a)

Peacock

b)

Eagle

c)

Sparrow

d)

Parrot

40.

Which of these is NOT a natural disaster

a)

Volcanic Eruption

b)

Hurricane

c)

Icebergs

d)

Tornado

41.

A person who digs in Earth's dirt to find artifacts and evidence of how early humans lived.

a)

archaeologist

b)

geologist

c)

astrologist

d)

farmers

42.

Nomadic means...

a)

people live in permanently in one place

b)

people went from one place to another

c)

people like agriculture

d)

people built huts