Trans Sahara Trade Questions PDF

QUESTIONS FROM TRANS SAHARA TRADE 1. **What was the primary commodity traded across the Trans-Saharan routes?** A) Silk B) Gold C) Spices D) Silver 2. **Which animal was most crucial for transportation in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Horse B) Camel C) Elephan...

QUESTIONS FROM TRANS SAHARA TRADE 1. **What was the primary commodity traded across the Trans-Saharan routes?** A) Silk B) Gold C) Spices D) Silver 2. **Which animal was most crucial for transportation in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Horse B) Camel C) Elephant D) Ox 3. **Which empire was NOT a significant participant in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Ghana B) Mali C) Songhai D) Roman 4. **What was a key city in the Mali Empire that thrived due to the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Cairo B) Timbuktu C) Alexandria D) Marrakech 5. **Which European country first began to explore and eventually dominate the Trans-Saharan trade routes in the 15th century?** A) Portugal B) Spain C) France D) Italy 6. **Which of the following was NOT a major trade item exported from West Africa across the Sahara?** A) Gold B) Ivory C) Salt D) Tea 7. **The Trans-Saharan trade contributed significantly to the spread of which religion?** A) Christianity B) Islam C) Hinduism  D) Buddhism 8. **Who was the famous ruler of the Mali Empire known for his pilgrimage to Mecca that highlighted the wealth of his empire?** A) Sunni Ali B) Mansa Musa C) Askia the Great D) Sundiata Keita 9. **What natural barrier did traders have to cross during the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) The Sahara Desert B) The Nile River C) The Atlas Mountains D) The Congo Rainforest 10. **Which city was an important trade hub on the northern edge of the Sahara?** A) Marrakech B) Cairo C) Sijilmasa D) Tripoli 11. **Which product was primarily exchanged for gold in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Silk B) Salt C) Spices D) Grain 12. **Which region primarily provided the gold in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) East Africa B) Southern Africa C) West Africa D) North Africa 13. **What did the Trans-Saharan trade routes help to develop in West Africa?** A) Industrialization B) Urbanization C) Agriculture D) Mining 14. **Which famous traveler documented his journeys across the Trans-Saharan trade routes in the 14th century?** A) Marco Polo B) Ibn Battuta C) Vasco da Gama  D) Hernán Cortés 15. **Which empire succeeded the Mali Empire and continued the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Ghana Empire B) Songhai Empire C) Benin Empire D) Ashanti Empire 16. **What was the primary role of the Berbers in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Producers of gold B) Slave traders C) Middlemen and guides D) Conquerors 17. **Which modern-day country was a significant part of the ancient Ghana Empire?** A) Nigeria B) Ghana C) Mali D) Mauritania 18. **What significant innovation helped improve the efficiency of the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Wheeled carts B) Compass C) Camel saddles D) Steam engines 19. **The city of Gao was an important center for which empire?** A) Ghana Empire B) Mali Empire C) Songhai Empire D) Kanem-Bornu Empire 20. **Which item was NOT commonly traded from the North African coast to the West African empires?** A) Horses B) Weapons C) Cotton cloth D) Coffee 21. **The decline of which empire significantly affected the Trans-Saharan trade routes in the 16th century?** A) Ghana Empire B) Mali Empire C) Songhai Empire  D) Roman Empire 22. **What was a significant effect of the Trans-Saharan trade on West African societies?** A) Isolation B) Decline of empires C) Spread of literacy and scholarship D) Reduction in agricultural output 23. **Which empire was known for its wealth and extensive libraries in cities like Timbuktu?** A) Ghana B) Mali C) Songhai D) Benin 24. **Which river was crucial for trade and communication within the Mali and Songhai empires?** A) Nile B) Niger C) Congo D) Zambezi 25. **What role did the Tuareg play in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Gold miners B) Traders and guides C) Ivory hunters D) Cotton weavers 26. **Which trade item from West Africa was highly valued by North African traders?** A) Silk B) Spices C) Kola nuts D) Silver 27. **What was a key factor in the decline of the Trans-Saharan trade routes?** A) The Black Death B) The rise of Atlantic trade routes C) The fall of the Roman Empire D) The introduction of motor vehicles 28. **Which city served as a major center for Islamic scholarship in the Mali Empire?** A) Timbuktu B) Gao C) Djenne D) Kano 29. **In addition to gold and salt, which other commodity was commonly traded across the Sahara?** A) Tea B) Textiles C) Spices D) Timber 30. **Which kingdom was known for its impressive military organization and control over trade routes in the late 15th century?** A) Ghana B) Mali C) Songhai D) Kanem-Bornu 31. **What was the significance of Taghaza in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Gold mining site B) Major port city C) Salt mining center D) Religious center 32. **Who was the founder of the Songhai Empire?** A) Sundiata Keita B) Mansa Musa C) Sunni Ali D) Askia Muhammad 33. **Which technology improved the safety and efficiency of long-distance trade across the Sahara?** A) Compass B) Caravans C) Steam engines D) Telegraph 34. **What was the role of Djenne in the Trans-Saharan trade network?** A) Religious center B) Trade and commercial hub C) Military fortress D) Agricultural center 35. **Which Arab geographer wrote extensively about the Trans-Saharan trade and West African kingdoms?** A) Al-Biruni B) Ibn Khaldun  C) Al-Idrisi D) Ibn Battuta 36. **The trading of which commodity was instrumental in financing the construction of mosques and universities in Timbuktu?** A) Salt B) Gold C) Slaves D) Spices 37. **The introduction of which religion to West Africa was significantly influenced by the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Buddhism B) Hinduism C) Islam D) Judaism 38. **Which modern-day country contains the historical city of Timbuktu?** A) Nigeria B) Mali C) Algeria D) Sudan 39. **Which empire’s decline marked the end of the golden age of the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Ghana B) Mali C) Songhai D) Benin 40. **What was a common method for protecting trade caravans across the Sahara?** A) Armed escorts B) Secrecy of routes C) Payment of tribute D) Use of decoy caravans 41. **Which European power's exploration of the African coast contributed to the decline of the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) France B) Spain C) Portugal D) England 42. **What was the primary purpose of caravans in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Agricultural production  B) Military conquest C) Transportation of goods D) Religious pilgrimage 43. **Which historical figure is known for documenting the vast wealth of the Mali Empire during his travels?** A) Marco Polo B) Ibn Battuta C) Zheng He D) Vasco da Gama 44. **Which empire established control over the important trading city of Gao in the early 15th century?** A) Ghana B) Mali C) Songhai D) Benin 45. **Which product from the Sahara was essential for preserving food and thus highly valued in trade?** A) Gold B) Ivory C) Salt D) Spices 46. **What was the main reason for the high value of salt in West Africa?** A) Scarcity B) Flavor enhancement C) Preservation of food D) Religious significance 47. **Which kingdom was known for its extensive trade in kola nuts?** A) Ghana B) Mali C) Ashanti D) Kanem-Bornu 48. **Which body of water was a critical connection for North African trade routes leading to the Mediterranean?** A) Red Sea B) Atlantic Ocean C) Mediterranean Sea D) Indian Ocean 49. **Who was the ruler during the peak of the Mali Empire, famous for his wealth and influence?** A) Sundiata Keita B) Mansa Musa C) Askia Muhammad D) Sunni Ali 50. **The strategic location of which city allowed it to become a key hub for the distribution of gold in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Timbuktu B) Djenne C) Gao D) Koumbi Saleh 51. **Which mineral resource was mined in the Sahara and traded extensively in West Africa?** A) Iron B) Copper C) Salt D) Gold 52. **Which factor was NOT a reason for the decline of the Trans-Saharan trade routes?** A) European maritime exploration B) Decline of participating empires C) Depletion of gold mines D) Introduction of air travel 53. **Which major West African river served as an important trade route for the Mali and Songhai empires?** A) Nile B) Senegal C) Volta D) Niger 54. **What was a common characteristic of cities that prospered due to the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Large military garrisons B) Centers of Islamic learning C) Agricultural hubs D) Ports on the Mediterranean 55. **What role did women typically play in the societies involved in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Political leaders B) Military generals  C) Traders and merchants D) Producers of trade goods 56. **Which empire was known for its sophisticated administration and control over vast territories and trade routes in West Africa?** A) Ghana B) Mali C) Songhai D) Benin 57. **What was the primary use of gold traded across the Sahara?** A) Currency B) Jewelry C) Religious artifacts D) Military funding 58. **Which innovation allowed for more efficient transport of goods across the Sahara?** A) Camel caravans B) Wheeled carts C) Sailing ships D) Railroads 59. **Which present-day country was part of the ancient Songhai Empire?** A) Ghana B) Nigeria C) Mali D) Niger 60. **The ancient city of Timbuktu was located near which geographic feature?** A) Sahara Desert B) Nile River C) Atlas Mountains D) Lake Chad 61. **What was the primary economic activity of the Berber tribes involved in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Agriculture B) Craftsmanship C) Trade and transport D) Mining 62. **Which empire is known for establishing the Great Mosque of Djenné, a major center of Islamic learning?** A) Ghana  B) Mali C) Songhai D) Kanem-Bornu 63. **Which West African kingdom was first to control the gold and salt trade?** A) Ghana B) Mali C) Songhai D) Benin 64. **The collapse of which empire marked the end of significant Trans-Saharan trade routes in the late 16th century?** A) Ghana B) Mali C) Songhai D) Kanem-Bornu 65. **What was one of the primary reasons for the wealth of the city of Gao?** A) Agricultural production B) Trade in slaves and gold C) Mining of silver D) Manufacturing of textiles 66. **The Trans-Saharan trade primarily connected West Africa with which region?** A) Europe B) East Africa C) North Africa D) South Asia 67. **Which ruler expanded the Songhai Empire to its greatest extent?** A) Sundiata Keita B) Mansa Musa C) Sunni Ali D) Askia Muhammad 68. **What major river was essential to the economic and cultural development of the Mali and Songhai empires?** A) Congo B) Zambezi C) Niger D) Senegal 69. **The spread of which language facilitated trade and communication across the Trans-Saharan routes?**  A) Arabic B) Swahili C) Berber D) Hausa 70. **Which commodity was most crucial for the economies of the Sahel region in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Spices B) Salt C) Timber D) Silk