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Social Studies, History
6th -
8thgrade
West African Societies Quiz
20 questions
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- 1. Multiple Choice
What geographic feature in northern Africa limited Western African civilizations contact with Europe and Asia?
Niger River
Nile River
Sahara Desert
Senegal River
- 2. Multiple Choice
What is the name of the area between the Sahara Desert and the African savana?
Niger River
Sahel
Nile River
Drakensberg Mountains
- 3. Multiple Choice
Which of the following was not an empire in West Africa?
Songhai
Mali
Ghana
Koumbi Saleh
- 4. Multiple Choice
What natural resource in West Africa was valued as much as gold?
Salt
Iron
Ivory
Kola nuts
- 5. Multiple Choice
How were the Berbers able to reach and trade with West Africa?
They sailed around the horn of Africa
They navigated up the Niger River
Through a series of catapult delivery systems
They traveled in caravans of camels
- 6. Multiple Choice
Which African ruler is matched with the correct description
Mansa Musa- Mali emperor most known for his extravagant hajj
Sundiata- first ruler of the Mali Empire
Tunka Manin- Ghana king who brought the empire to its peak
Sunni Ali- Songhai ruler who united the Songhai empire and defeated the Mali
All are correct
- 7. Multiple Choice
What were the two most prominent religions within West Africa?
Animism and Judaism
Christianity and Islam
Islam and animism
Hinduism and Christianity
- 8. Multiple Choice
How did Muslim rulers in West Africa treat non-Muslims inside of their empire?
They tolerated them
They banned or exiled them
They arrested them and forcefully converted them to Islam
They killed them
- 9. Multiple Choice
Timbuktu, Djenne, and Gao all became major centers of what in West Africa?
Trade
Education
Culture
All are correct
- 10. Multiple Choice
How did Islam first reach and spread in West Africa?
The angel Gabriel brought the Qu'ran to the Mali Empire
The Berbers and missionaries traveling with them spread Islam as they traded with West Africa
The Umayyads conquered West Africa
The Abbasids conquered West Africa
- 11. Multiple Choice
What is a griot?
A warlord
A story-teller, historian, and/or musician
The title of a West African emperor
All are correct
- 12. Multiple Choice
Why was none of West Africa's history written down before the introduction of the Arabic language?
West Africa had no writing system
The Umayyads ordered all writings be destroyed
All records were lost in a great fire
None are correct
- 13. Multiple Choice
How did African culture and traditions spread to the Americas?
Africans immigrated there after Christopher Columbus colonized the New World
African slaves were brought to the New World
Muslim traders rode caravans there and brought their culture with them
Europeans copied their traditions and brought them to the colonies their countries established
- 14. Multiple Choice
Which modern musical genre was influenced by African music?
Jazz
Rap and hip hop
Funk
Blues
All are correct
- 15. Multiple Choice
The clothing worn by the people in this picture is made from what cloth?
Anansi
Kora
Djembe
Kente
- 16. Multiple Choice
What is the African diaspora?
The name of the African slave trade
The war campaign led by Sundiata
The spread of Africans outside and away from their homeland
The royal inheritance system of passing the throne through the mother's family
- 17. Multiple Choice
The song clip in this question contains what aspect of African music?
Call and response
Kora
Polyrhythm
Djembe
- 18. Multiple Choice
The traditional religion of Animism believes...
Objects in nature have souls or spirits
In worship of of Mohammad
All animals go to heaven
In the Eight-fold Path of Islam
- 19. Multiple Choice
The West African ruler who was most responsible for spreading Islam was
Mehmed II
Mansa Musa
Sunni Ali
Askia the Great
- 20. Multiple Choice
How did the people use salt?
To preserve food
Trade it for gold
For their health
All are correct
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