Geography & Migration
What is the world’s largest desert?
Sahara
Which two goods were most traded in West Africa?
Gold & Salt
What is the holy book of Islam called?
Qur'an
Who was the famous ruler of Mali who made a pilgrimage to Mecca?
Mansa Musa
What did griots do in African societies?
Told stories and oral history
What are the grassy plains of Africa called?
Savanna
Why was salt so valuable in West Africa?
It replaced salt lost through perspiration and preserved food
Who is considered the prophet and founder of Islam?
Muhammad
The founder of Mali was ____________.
Sundiata
How did Islam spread to West Africa?
Through Muslim traders crossing the Sahara.
Name the three directions of the Bantu Migration
South and East from West Africa
What was the Trans-Saharan Trade route used for?
Trading gold, salt, and other goods across the desert
What does “Shahada” mean in Islam?
Declaration of faith
What empire controlled the gold-salt trade routes before Mali?
Ghana
The East African coast developed a new language called ____________, an Arabic word meaning “__________.”
Swahili; “of the coast”
What geographic feature helped Ethiopia maintain independence?
Rugged mountains
What city became a center of trade and learning under Mansa Musa?
Timbuktu
What is Zakat, and why is it important?
Almsgiving/helps the poor
Mansa Musa built a university at ____________.
Timbuktu
What was the role of epics in African culture?
Preserved the history of great leaders
What region did the Bantu peoples originally migrate from?
West Africa
What empire controlled a triangular trade network between Africa, India, and the Mediterranean?
Axum
What is the significance of the Hajj pilgrimage?
It fulfills one of the Five Pillars of Islam and connects Muslims to Mecca
What empire followed Mali and expanded trade and scholarship?
Songhai
True or False: Axum converted to Islam and became a major Islamic empire.
False