Key Figures
Who was the founder of the Mali Empire?
Sundiata Keita
What two resources were most important to West African trade?
Gold and salt
What religion influenced Mali and Songhai governments?
Islam
What caused the decline of Ghana?
Loss of control over trade routes and invasions by Almoravids.
Which Mali city became a center of Islamic learning?
Timbuktu
Which Mali ruler made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca?
Mansa Musa
Which river was vital for trade in Mali and Songhai?
Niger River
How did Askia Muhammad strengthen Songhai’s administration?
Appointed governors and enforced Islamic law
Which empire fell after Moroccan forces invaded with firearms?
Songhai Empire.
What was Mansa Musa’s most famous contribution to Mali’s culture?
Building mosques and promoting education.
Who was the first great ruler of Songhai?
Sunni Ali
What system did Ghana use to tax traders?
Tariffs on goods entering and leaving the empire
What was Ghana’s political structure like?
Centralized monarchy with semi-divine king
What internal issue weakened Mali after Mansa Musa’s death?
Succession disputes and weak leadership.
Which empire built a strong administrative system under Islamic law?
Songhai under Askia Muhammad.
Which Songhai leader promoted Islam and education?
Askia Muhammad
Timbuktu became famous for what economic and cultural role?
Center of trade and Islamic learning
Which empire had universities and libraries in Timbuktu?
Mali Empire
Which empire faced pressure from nomadic groups and overexpansion?
Ghana Empire
What role did griots play in preserving history?
They were oral historians who kept traditions alive.
What title was given to the king of Ghana?
Ghana (meaning “war chief”)
Which empire controlled trade routes after Mali declined?
Songhai Empire
What caused the decline of Songhai?
Invasion by Moroccan forces with firearms in 1591
How did technology contribute to Songhai’s defeat?
Moroccans used guns and cannons against Songhai’s traditional weapons.
Which empire’s wealth and pilgrimage influenced global awareness of Africa?
Mali Empire during Mansa Musa’s reign.