Africa In About 1600

Question 1

Geography

Answer 1

• Vast continent, three times bigger the USA

- One third of the land is desert and much of the remaining is very poor quality soil

Question 2

Languages

Answer 2

Africa had over a thousand languages

Question 3

Government

Answer 3

Villages and cities: ran their own affairs and men ruled.

Kingdoms: kingdoms had a centralised government. For example Egypt. Kings conquered near states creating an empire

Question 4

Houses and buildings

Answer 4

• Most houses were made of wattle and daub.
• Families used single houses
• In villages, they lived in a fenced compound.
• Seperate buildings for husband, wife and sons.
• Other buildings were used for storing grain or shelving animals.

Question 5

Trade

Answer 5

• Large towns were centres of trade or manufacturing.
• Traded iron ware, pottery, cloth, vegetables, grain, spices and basket work.
• Either exchange things or used cowrie shells like money.
• Traded with people from abroad.

Question 6

Religion

Answer 6

• Christians in Egypt, Ethiopia and places along the east coast.
• Islam brought the Arabic language to many places.
• Islam spread across North Africa, from west to east.
• Southern people believed in a supreme god and evil spirits

Question 7

Interesting facts

Answer 7

In some areas, climate and terrain made trade and agriculture really hard.
Until camels and horses were imported
Disease spread by the tsetse fly