Sub-Saharan Africa

Question 1

Geography of Northern Africa

Answer 1

Dominated by the Sahara desert
Under the Sahara, is the Sahel - semi-desert grassland, small tree patches
NW Africa - agricultural land to the Atlantic Coast

Question 2

Nubia

Answer 2

Below Egypt (modern-day Sudan)
Land rich in gold deposits. Geographical area with kingdoms of Kush and Meroe
Kingdoms based on gold and timber trade and farming

Question 3

Kush (1700-600 BCE)

Answer 3

Strong enough to rival Egypt for control of the Nile river. Interesting architecture, temples, palaces, built over 200 pyramids. Replaced by Meroe

Question 4

Meroe (c.600-400BCE)

Answer 4

First people in sub-Saharan Africa to mine and forge iron. Successfully held back invasion from the Roman empire. Greatly respected beyond Africa

Question 5

Aksum (c.100CE)

Answer 5

Brought Meroe to an end. Became major supplier of good to the Roman Empire. First African kingdom to mint their coins.

Question 6

Empire of Mali (1240-1456)

Answer 6

Mixture of Islam and West African traditions. Large permanent army of 200,000 men. Profited off taxing trade and receiving tribute from subject states. Demand for gold increasing worldwide, and Mali became world’s largest exporter of gold.

Question 7

Mansa Sundiata Keita (1235-1255)

Answer 7

Led the revolution against previous empire of Ghana. Declared the emperor of Mali. When he died, Mali was the largest and richest state in Africa.

Question 8

Mansa Musa (r. c. 1312-1337)

Answer 8

Strengthened Mali’s infrastructure. Made a holy pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, travelling with 60,000 people and 30,000ibs of gold. They brought so much gold that it lost its value in Egypt and Mecca. Brought back scholars, entire Arabic library, artists, architects, etc.

Question 9

Timbuktu

Answer 9

Major center of learning of science and law. People everywhere came to study. The Sankore Mosque was a very important Muslim center and included a massive collection of manuscripts and texts.

Question 10

Songhay Empire (1456-1591)

Answer 10

Subject state of Mali who overthrew it. Tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims. Eventually overthrown by Morocco

Question 11

King Sonni Ali Ber

Answer 11

Most powerful ruler in Africa by the time of his death. Careful to reward kings he defeated, granted they pay tribute on time.