West African Empires: Study Guide
Empire of Ghana
1. Why was salt highly valued?
It used to preserve food, made food tasty and diet.
2. What was good about the location of the Ghana Empire for trade?
Good position - region's most valueble resources - gold and salt.
3. What is silent barter?
A process in which people exchange goods without ever contacting each other directly.
4.How did Ghana’s rulers raise money and what did the money pay for? P. 133
· Strong armies to protect traders.
· Gold and Salt Trade.
Empire of Mali
1. After conquering Ghana, on what did the king of Mali focus?
Took over the salt and gold trade.
2. To what religion did Mansa Musa belong?
Islam
3. Describe what effect Mana Musa’s hajj had on the world’s knowing about Mali:
Mali's wealth and power world famous.
4. Name three ways Mansa Musa spread his religion throughout Mali?
· Build moques
· Arabic
· Learing of Qur'an
Empire of Songhai
1. What religion did the Songhai practice?
Islam
2. Describe one way that Askia the Great was like Mansa Musa?
· Muslim
· Supported eduacation
· pilgrimage to Mecca 3. Why did the Moroccan army invade Songhai?
To get the salt mines, they used arquebus. Historical and Artistic Traditions Key Terms and People:
Oral history = A spoken record of past events.
Griots = West African storytellers.
Proverbs = Short saying of wisdom or truth.
Kente = A hand-woven brightly colored fabric.
1. Why do you think griots are so valued in West African society?
People in West Africa were very interested in the deeds.
2. What did West African masks represent and when were they worn?
·Faces of animals
· Rituals
· Special holidays 3. Why were music and dance so important in West Africa?
· Visal art
· History
· Celebration
· Funerals
