West & East African Empires Flashcards
(41 cards)
Q: What trade made Ghana rich and powerful?
A: The gold and salt trade.
Q: What did Ghana do to traders passing through its empire?
A: Collected taxes as they entered and exited.
Q: What was the capital of Ghana?
A: Kumbi.
Q: What two purposes did Kumbi serve?
A: A major trading center and the administrative capital.
Q: How did Ghana’s kings use taxes?
A: To build a powerful army.
Q: Who influenced Ghana’s culture and religion?
A. Islamic scholars and Arab Merchant. Allah is him.
Q: What caused the fall of the Ghana Empire?
A: Invasion by Muslim warriors from North Africa.
Q: Who was the first great ruler of Mali?
A: Sundiata Keita.
Q: Who was the most famous ruler of Mali?
A: Mansa Musa.
Q: What did Mansa Musa do in 1324?
A: Went on a pilgrimage to Mecca and gave away gold.
Q: What happened in Cairo because of Mansa Musa’s gold?
A: Caused inflation; economy didn’t recover for 12 years.
Q: What city became a learning center in Mali?
A: Timbuktu.
Q: What was taught in Timbuktu?
A: Math, science, grammar, law, and Islam.
Q: What were Mali’s main trade goods?
A: Salt and gold.
Q: What caused the decline of Mali?
A: Poor leadership and internal conflict.
Q: Where did the Songhai Empire start?
A: Gao, on the Niger River.
Q: Who expanded Songhai and made it great?
A: Askia Muhammad.
Q: How did Askia Muhammad organize the empire?
A: Divided it into provinces with governors.
Q: What religion did Songhai officially follow?
A: Islam.
Q: Why did the Moroccan invasion defeat Songhai?
A: Moroccans had guns; Songhai did not.
Q: What was Songhai’s main economic activity?
A: Controlling trans-Saharan trade routes.
Q: Where was Aksum located?
A: Present-day Ethiopia.
Q: What made Aksum powerful?
A: Trade along the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
Q: What religion did Aksum adopt around 300 CE?
A: Christianity.
