Africa

Question 1

Sahara

Answer 1

• Over 10,000 years ago was a green savannah with animals, lakes, and rivers
• Turned into the desert
• First African communities were not farming communities and only raised livestock, change in Sahara caused them to be unable to raise livestock

Question 2

Ghana Saharan trade

Answer 2

• trade across sahara existed but was irregular and inconsistent because of harsh desert conditions.
• Most pack animals couldnt travel far in the hot, dry sahara without rest or water.
• In 3rd century AD the berber nomads began using camels that could travel longer distances without water.
• With more camels being used, trade increased.
• By the 700s Ghana was a kingdom whos rulers were growing rich by taxing the goods that traders brought in their territory

Question 3

Gold and salt trade

Answer 3

• Gold and salt were the most important trade items
• Gold came from a forest region south of the savannah between the Niger and Senegal
• Salt came from deposits in the sahara
• Arab and berber traders crossed the desert with camel caravans loaded with salt
• Also carried cloth, weapons
• African traders brought gold north from forest regions

Question 4

Mali

Answer 4

• Wealth built on gold

- Founders were people who lived south of Ghana

Question 5

Sundiata

Answer 5

• Came to power by crushing a cruel unpopular leader
• became emporer
• took over kingdom of Ghana
• Period of peace and prosperity followed

Question 6

Mansa Musa

Answer 6

• Ninth Emporer of Mali
• built his wealth from salt and gold
• devout religious muslim
• on his return from his hajj be brought architects, mathematicians, religious leaders, educators
• under his rule Mali reached its greatest size

Question 7

What sundiata did for Mali

Answer 7

• Put able administrators in charge of Mali’s finance, defense, and foreign affairs
• Took over Ghana and trading cities and a period of peace and prosperity followed

Question 8

Why Mansa Musa was important

Answer 8

• Empire expanded 2x of Ghana under his reign
• On his return from his hajj he brought mathematicians, religious leaders, educators, architechts and had mosques, libraries, and universities