West African Empires and Culture Quiz

West African Empires

• Wealth was built through control of the trans-Saharan trade, which connected West Africa to the Mediterranean region and enabled the exchange of goods such as gold, salt, and ivory.

Cultural Influences

• The empires of West Africa blended African, Islamic, and Mediterranean cultural influences.
• The blend of cultural influences resulted in a unique cultural identity in West Africa.

Human Origins

• The first humans lived in East Africa, specifically in the Great Rift Valley, around 2.5 million years ago.

Regional Differences in Africa

• Central Africa is distinct from the northern and southern parts of the continent due to its dense tropical rainforests and Congo River Basin.

Spread of Christianity and Islam

• Christianity and Islam arrived in Africa through trade and migration, with Christianity introduced by Egyptian and Ethiopian Christians and Islam introduced by Arab traders.

Trans-Saharan Trade

• The trans-Saharan trade was founded on the exchange of salt and gold, which enabled the rise of West African empires.
• The trade connected West Africa to the Mediterranean region, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultural influences.

Ghana Empire

• Ghana's power grew due to its strategic location on the Niger River, control of the trans-Saharan trade, and strong cavalry.
• After the 700's, Ghana's power declined due to internal strife, external pressure, and the decline of the trans-Saharan trade.

Vassal States

• A vassal state is a subordinate state that owes allegiance to a more powerful state or empire, often in exchange for protection.

Mali Empire

• The kingdom of Mali was founded by Sundiata Keita in the 13th century.
• Timbuktu's location made it a center for trade due to its proximity to the Sahara Desert and the Niger River, connecting West Africa to the Mediterranean region.

Consequences of Mansa Musa's Hajj

• Mansa Musa's hajj to Mecca in 1324 introduced West Africa to the Islamic world, leading to an influx of scholars, architects, and traders.

Ibn Battuta

• Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan explorer who traveled extensively throughout the Islamic world, including West Africa, in the 14th century.
• He is important to our understanding of history due to his detailed accounts of the cultures and societies he encountered.

Griots

• Griots are traditional West African storytellers and musicians who preserve and transmit cultural knowledge and history.

Songhai Empire

• The first Songhai emperor was Sunni Ali Ber, who established the empire in the 15th century.
• Askia Muhammad, a successor of Sunni Ali, spread Islam throughout his empire by building mosques and encouraging Islamic scholarship.