Vocabulary
The ancient people known as the ______ were some of the first in West Africa to create tools and weapons from iron.
Nok
What ocean borders Africa on the west?
Atlantic Ocean
What were the three main vegetation zones of West Africa?
Desert, savanna, and forest
What is the process called when ore is melted to extract metal?
Smelting
What were the three great West African empires?
Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
The process of melting ore to extract metal, such as iron, is called ______.
Smelting
What two major rivers flow through West Africa and supported early kingdoms?
Niger River and Senegal River
What was the most important river in West Africa for trade and farming?
The Niger River
Who were the most respected people in early West African villages and cities?
Blacksmiths
What did kings collect from goods bought and sold in their cities?
Taxes
A payment made by conquered people to show loyalty to their ruler or to receive protection was called a ______.
Tribute
In which region of Africa were the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai located?
West Africa
What made iron tools better than stone tools for farmers?
They were stronger and could clear land more easily
What allowed some villages to grow into rich towns and cities?
Control of trade routes and collection of trading fees
What did conquered people receive in return for paying tribute?
Protection from the king’s army and peace in their region
Families in some West African societies traced their heritage through their mothers’ line, known as ______, while others traced it through their fathers’, known as ______.
Matrilineal / Patrilineal
The Niger River flows through which two kingdoms of West Africa?
Mali and Songhai
Why did people in different vegetation zones have to trade with each other?
Each zone had different resources they needed from others
Why did historians change their views after discovering Jenne-jeno?
It proved West Africans built cities before outsiders arrived
What role did religion play in a West African king’s power?
People believed kings had special powers given by the gods
During ______, valuable goods such as gold, salt, and ______ were carried across the ______ Desert by caravans. One of the richest rulers to benefit from this trade was ______, who was famous for his generosity and gold.
Trans-Saharan Trade, Textiles, Sahara, Mansa Musa
The city of Timbuktu was part of which two West African kingdoms, and on what river was it located?
It was part of Mali and Songhai, and located on the Niger River.
What made the city of Jenne-jeno an ideal place for trade and settlement?
It was located where the Niger and Bani Rivers meet, perfect for farming and trade
How did tribute payments help West African rulers grow stronger?
Tribute showed loyalty, paid for armies, and increased the king’s wealth
What was one major advantage of being part of a large empire instead of a small city-state?
Safer trade routes, protection from raids, and shared wealth/luxury goods