How did geography impact trade?
What major trade good came out of the Sahara and was traded through West Africa?
Salt
The trade of which two goods drove the wealth of these kingdoms?
Salt and gold
West African had a surplus of what material?
Gold
Who was Mansa Musa?
Mansa Musa was a king of Mali
What were the major goods traded in West Africa?
Salt and Gold
What major resource came out of West Africa and was desired in the rest of the world?
Gold
As contact with Muslim Berbers increased, the leaders of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai slowly braced which major religion?
Islam
Salt
What is a "hajj"?
A pilgrimage (journey) to Mecca taken by Muslims
Due to the effects of trading with Berbers and Arabs, what religion eventually spread through most of West Africa?
Islam
This natural feature created a barrier to the north of West Africa, making travel into and out of the region very difficult
Sahara Desert (or just desert)
These historians, who kept the oral traditions of their people, often found themselves in competition with Arabic scholars and writers
Griot
Because of the difference in availability in salt and gold, what was a normal exchange rate between the two in West Africa?
Salt and gold were exchanged equally, pound for pound
Roughly, how many people travelled with Mansa Musa on his journey?
Roughly 60,000 people
This city became a major center for learning and books in the Muslim world because of the Arabic scholars that had been brought there by Mansa Musa
Timbuktu
The kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai were all centered around which river?
Niger
What was the major drive of conflict between these three kingdoms and the expansion of their borders over time?
Control of the salt and gold trade
Aside from currency, what were some other uses of gold in West Africa
*multiple correct answers
Who did Mansa Musa bring back with him after the journey?
Arabic scholars and teachers
This man, who is considered to be one of the wealthiest (if not the wealthiest) person in human history, literally put Mali on the map because of his generous giving away of gold
Mansa Musa
What was the main reason for the development of cities in West Africa?
Cities grew up at major crossroads for trade
This major city proved critical in the development of both the Mali and Songhai empires
Timbuktu
Not everyone had as much gold as West Africa. Which country had it's gold market destroyed for nearly 10 years after Mansa Musa flooded the market due to his charity
Egypt (Cairo)
Though they would eventually come to Africa as conquerors, what continent became aware of the gold and wealth in Africa due to Mansa Musa?
Europe
The wealth of Africa was something well known in the world until the 1600's, when people from which continent came looking for gold and labor for their colonies in the New World?
Europe