Beginner
What two factors had the biggest impact on the growth of West Africa?
Gold and Salt
How did Ghana become such a powerful state?
It had the strongest army in all of Africa.
It gained control of the valuable trade routes.
Who would become Mali’s greatest and most famous ruler?
Mansa Musa
Much of what we know about early West Africa comes from the writings of travelers and scholars from Muslim lands such as Spain and Arabia.
What is the best inference you can make from this statement?
The people of West Africa had very few written histories of their own. They used griots to spread messages/history.
What is an Imam?
Muslim worship leader
How did Ghana’s kings govern such a large empire?
The kingdom was divided into districts, the king then delegated power to elders, who then consulted with the king to make decisions for the good of the people.
What was significant about the location of the Ghana Empire?
It was located directly below the Sahara Desert. But, between the gold mines in the south and valuable salt resources in the north.
What was the importance of Mansa Musa’s hajj to Mecca?
He became an important leader in the Islamic leadership and began to promote religion and education throughout his territory
"With so many traders passing though their lands, Ghana’s rulers looked for ways to make money from them. One way they raised money was by forcing traders to pay taxes."
What can you infer about Ghana’s rulers from the above passage?
They were smart businessmen who took advantage of opportunities.
Define Thwart.
to prevent something
African storytellers who memorize and recite the names and histories of their people are called
griots.
How did the location of cities in the West African empires of Ghana and Mali influence their growth?
their location to major trade routes, access to various rivers, and the Atlantic Ocean allowed them to prosper economically.
How was music and dance incorporated into the lives of the people of early West Africa?
It was entertainment and also a way to celebrate their history and other important events.
Why was Ghana's military so significant?
Their military was large and powerful. It consisted of 200,000 warriors and 40,000 more with bows and arrows.
people who surround an important person are known as
an entourage.
What did Ghana’s army ensure the travelers of?
Ghana's large army assured the traders of safe passage through the Sahara Desert .
Which territory took over once Ghana collapsed?
_______________________were known as the ships of the desert which traveled in caravans.
Camels
What is the purpose of traveling in a caravan?
Allows for for more goods to be transported at once and aided in defense against bandits.
Define proximity.
nearness in space
Who was the first King of Mali and what was he known as?
Sundiata the Lion King
When the King of Mali died what happened to their region initially?
Their economy and government began to suffer due to various kings trying to obtain power.
Who would become the next “greatest” ruler of Mali and what type of changes would he make?
Why did the people in Songhai and Mali not get along?
Songhai disliked the imposed taxes for the use of the trading routes.
What does it mean to be imperial?
related to an emperor, empress, or empire