Africana Studies

Test

What was a sign of wealth in early African societies?

Owning cattle was a sign of wealth, and it became customary for the groom to give cattle as dowry during marriage.

Where did agriculture first appear in Africa?

Nile Valley and the Sahel region

What is the name of an early urban center that developed large farming settlements and Nok culture?

The city of Jenne-Jeno is an example of an early urban center in West Africa.

What areas in Africa have early evidence of ironworking?

Early evidence of ironworking can be found in regions such as West Africa, particularly in the Nok culture.

What evidence indicates trade between peoples in Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean?

Archaeological findings, such as trade goods and pottery, indicate trade connections between Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.

What is the oldest civilization in Africa?

The Ancient Egyptian civilization is considered the oldest civilization in Africa.

What impact did the suppression of oceanic slave exports have on West Africa in the nineteenth century?

The suppression of oceanic slave exports led to economic shifts and increased local labor demands in West Africa.

Which kingdom boasted powerful queens wielding power?

The Kingdom of Dahomey is known for having powerful queens.

What trade accompanied the slave trade in nineteenth-century East Africa?

The trade in ivory expanded dramatically alongside the slave trade in nineteenth-century East Africa.

What were the major problems for the Xhosa during colonization in the mid-nineteenth century?

Major problems included land dispossession, conflict with colonial forces, and the impact of European diseases.

Which European power exported the largest number of enslaved Africans during the eighteenth century?

The Portuguese exported the largest number of enslaved Africans during the eighteenth century.

What trading commodity became the most important export of the Trans-Saharan trade network?

Gold became the most important export of the Trans-Saharan trade network.

Which Sahel kingdom covered the largest geographical area?

The Kingdom of Mali covered the largest geographical area in the Sahel.

In what modern country were the Hausa kingdoms located?

The Hausa kingdoms were located in present-day Nigeria.

How did Benin rulers centralize their power?

Benin rulers centralized their power through military conquests, control of trade, and establishing a strong administrative system.

What type of information provides scholars with the most knowledge about the pre-colonial history of Central Africa?

Oral traditions and archaeological evidence provide scholars with significant knowledge about pre-colonial Central Africa.

What factors contributed to the fall of the Aksum Empire around 600 C.E.?

Factors included economic decline, overexpansion, and competition from emerging powers.

What side of the economic versus humanitarian debate on abolition do historians today mostly emphasize?

Historians today mostly emphasize the humanitarian side of the argument.

What encouraged the growth of the slave trade between the Portuguese and local African peoples?

The demand for labor in the Americas and the establishment of trade relationships encouraged the growth of the slave trade.

What name was used to refer to the people living along the East Coast of Africa who were primarily fishermen?

The term 'Swahili' was used to refer to these coastal peoples.

What area of the Great Lakes region was populated by the Maasai in the 1800s?

The Maasai populated areas in present-day Kenya and Tanzania.

How did the British justify their invasion into Xhosa territory?

The British justified their invasion by claiming it was necessary for security and to protect settlers.

What was the condition of slavery in the 1870s?

Slavery was widespread, with many enslaved individuals facing harsh conditions and exploitation.

What are commonly used periods in African history?

Commonly used periods include Pre-Colonial, Colonial, and Post-Colonial eras.

What does the term 'Swahili' refer to in terms of religion and culture?

The term 'Swahili' refers to a coastal society primarily Islamic in religion and culture.

What groups approached the East African coast from the south at the end of the fifteenth century?

The Portuguese approached the East African coast with the intention of seizing control of trade.

What Revolution provided the earliest stimulus to the movement to abolish the slave trade?

The Industrial Revolution provided the earliest stimulus to the abolition movement.

What type of pastoralists were the indigenous peoples living around Table Bay?

The indigenous peoples were mostly Khoisan pastoralists.

What caused thousands of Khoisan near Cape Town to die in the early eighteenth century?

They died due to diseases brought by European settlers and conflicts over land.

What are key features of the Kingdom of Kush?

Key features include its wealth from trade, pyramids, and cultural exchanges with Egypt.

What are the central beliefs of Egyptian religion?

Central beliefs include polytheism, the afterlife, and the importance of rituals.

What is the current opinion of archaeologists about the spread of Bantu speakers?

Archaeologists believe that the spread of Bantu speakers was a gradual process influenced by migration and cultural exchange.

What are the three main periods of dynastic-rule years of Ancient Egypt?

The three main periods are the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom.

What is the name of the Portuguese castle on the Gold Coast?

The castle is known as Elmina Castle.

What adjectives best describe the period known as the 'Era of the Princes'?

The period is often described as dynamic and transformative.

What are key features of Early Iron Age communities in Southern Africa?

Key features include the development of agriculture, ironworking, and trade networks.

Who is praised as a hero in oral traditions, despite criticism from historians?

Oral traditions praise Shaka Zulu as a hero.

What advantages do camels have as pack animals?

Camels can travel long distances without water and can carry heavy loads in harsh desert conditions.

In what areas did Mali develop under Mansa Musa's reign?

Mali developed in areas such as trade, education, and architecture.

How did the climate in the Sahara begin to change around 500 BCE?

The climate began to become drier, leading to desertification.

What does the word 'bantu' literally mean?

The word 'bantu' literally means 'people' in many Bantu languages.

What stereotype does the term 'Africa' refer to?

The term refers to a stereotype that perceives Africa as unknown, mysterious, exotic, and primitive.

What was Ghana's wealth attributed to?

Ghana's wealth was attributed to its location at the intersection of trade routes for gold and salt.

What family of languages is known for its distinctive click sounds?

The Khoisan languages are known for their distinctive click sounds.

True or False: The island(s) of Madagascar served as a home base for European pirates attacking Muslim pilgrim ships.

True.

True or False: Rejection of clan structures was one of the characteristics of the Kingdom of Rwanda.

False.

True or False: By the middle of the fifteenth century, Great Zimbabwe had to be abandoned because much of its natural resources had been exhausted.

True.

True or False: The most vocal among those who disagreed with the economic argument for the abolition of slavery was Eric Williams.

True.

True or False: The high-altitude inland plateau called the Highveld was difficult to use for agriculture due to poor soil.

True.

True or False: The Boers started calling themselves Afrikaners to create an artificial claim on African land.

True.