Geography & Climate
of Africa.
of Africa.
What African climate zone made trade between West Africa and North Africa difficult?
The Sahara Desert.
What two trade items were key to the growth of Ghana, Mali and Songhai?
Salt & Gold.
True or False: Islam heavily influenced Mali's culture.
True. The Mansas of Mali were Muslims.
Which religion heavily influenced East Africa?
Christianity.
What is oral history / oral tradition?
When history is passed down by songs and stories.
What is an 'ecosystem' or 'biome'?
A climate zone with certain types of plants and animals.
The Ghana Empire developed alongside which river?
The Niger River.
Who was the richest man in human history and leader of the Mali Empire?
Mansa Musa.
What ancient kingdom preceded (or came before) the Kingdom of Axum?
The Kingdom of Kush.
Some African cultures practiced ancestor worship. What does this mean?
They pray to the spirits of their dead family members.
Which African ecosystem can be described as a semi-arid zone where it hot and dry but not as bad as a desert?
The Sahel.
Why were the advisors to the Mansa/King of Ghana often Arabic speaking Muslims?
Arabic speaking Muslims were literate (could read and write).
Which city in the Mali Empire became both a center of trade and a center of learning?
Timbuktu.
What do some people also call the Kingdom of Axum?
Askum or Ethiopia.
What is a griot?
A professional storyteller who memorizes history.
Which African ecosystem can best be described a jungle where it rains all year around?
The Rainforests.
In addition to salt and gold, the Songhai Empire also heavily traded in what?
Slaves.
Of the three trading Empires of West Africa, which was physically the largest?
The Songhai Empire.
Which of the following as an achievement of the Kingdom of Axum?
Irrigation and terrace farming.
Who was Anansi?
Which African ecosystem can be described as a flat grassland where it sometimes rains?
The Savanna.
Ghana had a "caste" social system. What does this mean?
People have a specific role in society based on their family and they can not change it.
How was the Sultanate of Morocco able to defeat the Songhai Empire?
The Moroccans had access to firearms.
In the southern part of East Africa, Arab, Persian and African traditions merged and combined to form what culture?
The Swahili culture.
Most native/traditional African religions were Animistic. What does this mean?
They believe all things have a spirit / soul.