West Africa Quiz

Question 1

Senegal and Niger Rivers

Answer 1

The two main rivers running through West Africa

Question 2

The three Kingdoms of West Africa

Answer 2

Ghana - Most military dominance of the three
Mali - Wealthiest of the three
Songhai - Largest of the three

Question 3

The Sahara

Answer 3

Desert spanning across north and west Africa with temperatures as high as 120 degrees. It is larger than the continental United States and features little to no rainfall during a given year but has regular sand storms.

Question 4

Trans-Saharan Trade

Answer 4

A series of trade routes running the entirety of the Sahara. Trade along these routes primarily revolved around two resources: gold and salt.

Question 5

Religions of the West African Empires

Answer 5

Animism - Belief that all things in nature (people, plants, animals, etc.) have a spirit or soul.

Ancestor worship - Seeking guidance from the spirits of dead ancestors

Islam - a monotheistic religion based around the prophet Mohammad.

Question 6

Mansa Musa

Answer 6

Former king of Mali, known as the richest man to ever live. Famous for his travels across Africa and the Middle East, during which he brought many scholars and experts back to Mali while handing out gold to anyone he met.

Question 7

Camels and the Trans-Saharan

Answer 7

Camels were vital to traders in the Sahara as they could go 8 days without food or water while carrying up to 80 pounds. This meant that traders could travel longer distances with more goods while also requiring fewer supplies to keep their camels alive.