West Africa quiz

ANSWER KEY STUDY GUIDE: WEST AFRICA QUIZ


__________________Early Societies in West Africa__________________ 

  • Three major vegetation zones of West Africa (the first one is done for you):

    • The Sahara

    • The Sahel

    •  The savannah

  • Major trading route for West Africa: The Niger River

  • Reasons that early communities in West Africa grew into larger villages: for protection, sharing of jobs and resources

  • How ironworking affected food production AND types of jobs done in West Africa:
    Easier to grow and harvest more crops. Allowed people to expand to more diverse types of jobs

  • Important West African city at the junction of the Bani and Niger Rivers: Jenne-Jaro

  • Two significant ways early West African rulers gained wealth AND power:

    • a.  by collecting taxes from trade

    • b. using their wealth to pay for armies to take control of other lands.

  • Two reasons villages grew into cities in West Africa:

    • 1. The growth of ironmaking

    • 2. Expansion of trade


  • Advantages and disadvantages of being taken over by a larger West African kingdom: 

    • Advantages: Trade routes were protected, they had protection from larger enemies

    • Disadvantages: Had to pay tribute to the king who controlled them, forced to serve in larger kingdom’s army



__________________Ghana- A Trading Empire__________________

  • Three ways that Kings of Ghana held power:

    • A. King controlled army, appointed officials to help him govern.

    • B. All gold went directly to king

    • C. King ran councils to hear people’s problems and make decisions.

  • Ghana’s method for the line of succession (next to become the ruler): Matrilineal - chosen through female bloodlines.

  • Two things that helped expand trade between the Sahara and West Africa:

    • A. Camels

    • B. Spread of Islam


  •  Ways that wealth of Ghana’s kings increased through Saharan trade: taxes enriched Ghana's treasury. Paid armies that protected the kingdom and to conquer other territories.

  • Two items that dominated trade between North and West Africa:
    a. From North Africa: Salt
     Reason this item was important to West Africans: West Africans used it for their food and to replenish their bodies with salt after sweating

b. From West Africa: Gold
 Reason this item was important to North Africans: Used gold for coins and building wealth

  •  Name of the gold mine in Ghana: Wangara

  • Name of the salt mine in the Sahara: Taghaza


  • Significance of the silent barter: allowed people speaking different languages to trade, and kept locations of gold mines a secret.

  • The next kingdom that replaced Ghana: Mali

  • Importance of Mansa Musa’s journey to Mecca: It made Mali known as a wealthy and important kingdom in Africa.

  • Kingdom that replaced Mali: Songhai





__________________Islamic Influence on West Africa__________________

  • How Islam came to West Africa: Through trade across the Sahara Desert.

  • Provide 2 specific examples of Islam’s influence on West Africa in each of the following 6 categories (the first has been done for you):

    • Religious practices: West Africans adopted the Five Pillars of Islam, celebrated Islamic festivals and holy days.

    • Government: Law became written down as Islam spread. Followed Sharia law, which follows teachings of the  Qur’an, Islam’s holy book. Some African rulers began using Muslim titles such as sultan or emir. Became patrilineal - chosen through the male bloodline.

    • Education: Islam helped fuel creation of universities, schools, libraries, many encouraged to learn to read the Qur’an.

    • Arabic Language: Arabic language became official language of governments, also in schools and trading. Arabic language helped start written history in Africa rather than just spoken history.

    • Architecture: Mosques were built, flat-roofed mud brick homes were made.

    • Decorative arts: Calligraphy (artistic writing) was adopted from Muslims. People used geometric patterns in clothing and art. People adopted Muslim clothing styles such as long robes and head coverings.





__________________Cultural Legacy of West Africa__________________

  • Explain Griots and their importance to West African societies: Griot was an important part of West African traditions as a singer, storyteller, musician and oral historian. 

  • Explain importance of folk tales to West African culture: Folk tales were used to teach young people morals and values.

  • Three West African Instruments:
    1.Balafon
     2.Ngoni
     3.Kora

  • How traditions such as call and response singing and folk tales came from Africa to the Americas:
    They were brought over by Africans who were forced into slavery 

  • Three types of fabrics/cloth significant to West African culture:

1.Stamp fabrics
 2.Story fabrics
 3.Kente cloth

  • Styles of current music influenced by West African musical traditions:

1.Jazz
 2.Rock and roll
 3.Hip-hop

4.Blues





_____________African Civilizations and Leaders______________

  • Six important African leaders and their achievements: 

    • Hannibal - led army (incl. elephants) into Europe against Romans

    • Kandakes - female queens of Kush, military leaders

    • Haile Selasse - Emperor of Ethiopia, maintained country’s independence

    • Nelson Mandela - President of South Africa, helped unify country after end of apartheid

    • Hatshepsut - Egyptian pharaoh, first female to rule, established successful trading

    • Yaa Asentawa - Ashanti queen, fought against the British

___________West African Colonization and Explotation______________

  • The King and his country that took over the Congo: King Leopold II of Belgium

  • Congo was used for this valuable resource: Rubber

  • Europeans’ reactions to the brilliant civilizations and natural resources of Africa: Europeans wanted to gain wealth from Africa’s resources and civilizations. Racist ideas led many Europeans to feel that Africans did not have the right or the ability to be in control of those resources.