History Grade 7 Flashcards
Where was the Mali kingdom?
Western part of Africa
In what century was Mali at the height of its power?
14th century (1300-1399)
Which river flows through the Mali empire?
The Niger river
Which large desert is found in the northern part of Africa?
The Sahara
True or false camels were the best form of transport across the desert?
True
True or false: coal and copper were the main minerals in West Africa
False, salt and gold
Why did Arabs cross the Sahara desert?
The crossed the Sahara desert in order to trade
What are three items that The Arabs brought to trade?
Rugs, swords, daggers and glass(any 3)
What are 3 items the Arabs exchanged their goods for?
Gold,slaves,ivory,salt and ostrich feathers
What are two reasons why the Sahara desert was one of the most difficult deserts to cross?
It was extremely hot during the day, the nights were freezing cold, there were Sandstorms, it was easy to get lost,there was a danger of running out of water.(any 2)
How did people navigate their way through the desert without getting lost?
They travelled along the Niger river and they used the stars
Where is fat stored in the camels body?
In their humps
Where do camels store water?
In their stomachs
Why do camels used for transport in the Sahara desert?
Their feet have thick leathery pads to stop them sinking into the sand, they had long eyelashes and bushy eyebrows to protect their eyes, their nostrils can open and close to trap water vapour they have thick fur to help them cope with harsh weather, They can go for a long time without water, The milk was rich in vitamins and minerals.
Why did many West Africans convert to Islam?
It enabled them to get better prices when trading with other Muslims, it gives them a chance to read and write.
Who was the king at the time when Mali was at the height of its power?
Mansa Musa