Africa

What is the 2nd largest continent in the world?

Africa

About what percent of Earth’s surface does Africa cover

About 20%

What is a common misconception of Africa in movies and media

That it is dangerous, unsophisticated, and scary

What percent of Africa is rainforest

About 5%

Why are rainforest unsuitable for farming

Too much rain, little sunlight, and dense tree growth

What is Africa’s largest and most populated climate zone?

Savanna

What problem does irregular rainfall cause in the savanna?

Drought

What disease does the tsetse fly spread?

Sleeping sickness

Why is sleeping sickness economically damaging?

It kills cattle, which are a major source of income

Name Africa’s major deserts.

Sahara, Kalahari, Namib

What is an oasis?

A fertile place in a desert with water

Why are African rivers hard to navigate?

Cataracts and waterfalls

What valley is an exception to river navigation problems?

The Great Rift Valley

What was the capital of Kush?

Meroe

Why was Meroe wealthy?

Rich iron resources

What caused the downfall of Kush?

Deforestation from iron production

Who overthrew Kush?

Aksum

Which country has more pyramids than Egypt?

Sudan

What two commodities drove West African trade?

Gold and salt

Why was salt valuable in West Africa?

It was scarce in the savanna

What does Ghana mean?

Land of gold

How did Ghana’s king make money?

Taxing trade routes

Who founded the kingdom of Mali?

Sundiata Keita

What title means “king” in Mali?

Mansa

Which Malian king made a famous Hajj in 1324?

Mansa Musa

What river was Songhai located on?

Niger River

Who was the soldier-king of Songhai?

Sonni Ali

Who set up a Muslim dynasty in Songhai?

Askia Muhammad

What was the capital of Songhai?

Gao

What were the Hausa people known for building?

Walled cities

Which Hausa city had 14 miles of walls?

Kano

Who was the famous Hausa queen?

Queen Amina

What was the ruler of Benin called?

Oba

What were Benin artists famous for?

Bronze sculptures

What process did Benin use to make bronzes?

Lost-wax process

Which king conquered Nubia and converted to Christianity?

King Ezana

Why was Aksum powerful?

Strategic trade location

Why didn’t Islam spread into Ethiopia easily?

Mountain barriers

Who built rock-cut churches after a vision?

King Lalibela

What holiday celebrates the Epiphany in Ethiopia?

Timkat

What winds helped Indian Ocean trade?

Monsoon winds

What language blended Arabic and Bantu?

Swahili

What city was the southernmost Swahili trading port?

Kilwa

Who built Great Zimbabwe?

The Shona people

Why was Great Zimbabwe abandoned?

Over-farming and loss of resources

Why did hunter-gatherers live in small groups?

Limited food supply

 What is slash-and-burn agriculture?

Cutting and burning vegetation to clear land

What does matrilineal mean?

Lineage through the mother

What does patrilineal mean?

Lineage through the father

What is a clan?

A group of families with a common ancestor

What is an age-grade system?

Groups divided by age with shared roles and rites

What is a griot?

An oral historian, history through song

What is animism?

Belief that spirits exist in nature