1. How did the Mali Empire first rise to power in West Africa?
- A. By forming a powerful alliance with North African states.
- B. Through its development of advanced farming techniques on the savanna.
- C. By conquering the territory and trade of the weakened Ghana Empire.
- D. By creating a large and successful navy on the Niger River.
2. Besides expanding the empire's territory, how did Mansa Musa greatly influence Mali's culture?
- A. He promoted Islamic scholarship and learning.
- B. He made oral storytelling the official form of record-keeping.
- C. He outlawed the trade of salt to focus the economy on gold.
- D. He adopted Christianity from visiting European traders.
3. The economy and power of the Mali Empire were primarily built upon controlling the trade of which two goods?
- A. Ivory and spices
- B. Gold and salt
- C. Iron and copper
- D. Cloth and horses
4. What was a major accomplishment of Sundiata Keita after he founded the Mali Empire?
- A. He made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca.
- B. He established control over the vital gold and salt trade.
- C. He introduced the use of camels for desert travel.
- D. He was the first ruler to convert to Islam.
5. Under the rule of Mansa Musa, the city of Timbuktu became widely known for what reason?
- A. It was the primary location for the empire's gold mines.
- B. It served as the empire's main port for sea trade.
- C. It was a celebrated center for education and Islamic studies.
- D. It was a heavily fortified military base for the army.
6. Which two developments were most critical in transforming the Sahara from a barrier into a major trade route?
- A. The invention of the compass and the creation of detailed maps.
- B. The use of camels and the expansion of Islam.
- C. The discovery of gold and the use of horses.
- D. The building of ships and the rise of farming.
7. What specific advantage did camels have that made them essential for crossing the vast Sahara Desert?
- A. They could run faster than any other pack animal.
- B. They were able to survive for long periods without water.
- C. They could carry heavier loads than horses and donkeys.
- D. They were easier to tame and train for desert travel.
8. In addition to the use of camels, how did the spread of Islam help expand trans-Saharan trade?
- A. It introduced new types of goods that were not available before.
- B. It led to the construction of paved roads across the desert.
- C. It created common religious and cultural bonds that built trust among merchants.
- D. It provided military forces to guard every trade caravan.
9. How did West African empires like Ghana gain immense wealth and power from the trans-Saharan trade?
- A. By selling their advanced farming technology to North Africa.
- B. By building a large navy to control sea routes.
- C. By conquering neighboring empires to steal their resources.
- D. By controlling the trade routes and taxing the goods that passed through.
10. What was the main reason trade across the Sahara was so limited before the widespread adoption of camels?
- A. There were no valuable goods to exchange between regions.
- B. Tribal warfare made travel between oases too dangerous for merchants.
- C. Earlier pack animals like horses and donkeys could not survive the desert journey.
- D. Merchants did not know that West Africa had valuable resources.