Do You Know The History of West Africa?

Last updated · 7 min play time

The West African kingdoms are famous for their pivotal role in the trade of gold and salt, as well as the spread of Islam throughout the Sahara. Famous for their immense wealth and sumptuous lifestyle, the west African kingdoms remain a point of interest in world history. Show us what you know about these empires!


Regina has a master's degree in European history and the history of American foreign policy from Boston College. She loves learning and writing about history because it's never dead – things from the past always have relevance to today, and we're discovering things about the past all the time.

West Africa Quiz Questions

20 Questions · 3.3K Plays · 2 Comments

Question 1

Of the major west African kingdoms, which came first? This kingdom existed from 400 to 1200 AD.

  • A
    Ghana
  • B
    Tenochtitlan
  • C
    Songhai
  • D
    Han

Question 2

The empires of west Africa are known as the sahelian empires because of their location in the grasslands of Africa, known as the sahel. What desert were they close to?

  • A
    Gobi
  • B
    Sahara
  • C
    Great Victoria
  • D
    Mojave

Question 3

Which animal made long-distance trade across the Sahara Desert a profitable option?

  • A
    Alligator
  • B
    Alpaca
  • C
    Camel
  • D
    Horse

Question 4

Which precious metal was traded by the Ghana empire?

  • A
    Gold
  • B
    Bronze
  • C
    Copper
  • D
    Silver

Question 5

Gold was a majorly profitable commodity, along with salt. These things were traded for luxury goods from the Middle East and East Asia, such as spices and slaves. What was NOT a benefit of salt?

  • A
    Flavoring food
  • B
    Hydration
  • C
    Food preservation
  • D
    Was considered divine

Question 6

Ghana's territory extended into what modern countries?

  • A
    Saudia Arabia and Oman
  • B
    Mali and Mauritania
  • C
    Italy and Greece
  • D
    South Africa and Lesotho

Question 7

What religion were the majority of traders in north and west Africa, to which the people of Ghana eventually converted?

  • A
    Christian
  • B
    Buddhist
  • C
    Muslim
  • D
    Zoroastrian

Question 8

In the 1200s, Ghana began to decline in power due to invasions by surrounding peoples. What empire rose to power in the 1200s and incorporated Ghana?

  • A
    China
  • B
    Mali
  • C
    Persian
  • D
    Britain

Question 9

What ethnic group founded the Mali empire?

  • A
    Aztec
  • B
    Merovingian
  • C
    Mandinka
  • D
    Han

Question 10

What was the title given to the emperor of Mali?

  • A
    Boss
  • B
    Mansa
  • C
    Czar
  • D
    Sapa Inca

Question 11

The most famous ruler of the Mali was Mansa Musa. His extravagant wealth and generosity became the stuff of legends. A Muslim, he made the pilgrimage to what holy city from 1324 to 1326?

  • A
    London
  • B
    Beijing
  • C
    Mecca
  • D
    Jerusalem

Question 12

What was the capital city of Mali?

  • A
    Timbuktu
  • B
    Paris
  • C
    Machu Picchu
  • D
    Jakarta

Question 13

Timbuktu became a major center of Islamic learning. What is the name of the founder of Islam?

  • A
    Abraham
  • B
    Jesus
  • C
    Buddha
  • D
    Muhammad

Question 14

In addition to the gold and salt that the Ghana had traded, what other trade did the Mali benefit from?

  • A
    Mercury
  • B
    Copper
  • C
    Coal
  • D
    Sapphire

Question 15

Historians don't know much about these societies, and have to rely on the accounts of travelers at the time. What is the name of one of the most famous of these travelers?

  • A
    Thomas Jefferson
  • B
    Francis de Sales
  • C
    Christopher Columbus
  • D
    Ibn Battuta

Question 16

When the Mali empire declined, the Songhai empire took over the salt and gold trades in Africa. What river were the Ghana, Mali, and Songhai empires centered around?

  • A
    Thames
  • B
    Amazon
  • C
    Niger
  • D
    Yellow

Question 17

What were the most common occupations in the Songhai empire?

  • A
    Fishermen
  • B
    Metalworkers
  • C
    Carpenters
  • D
    Assembly line workers

Question 18

Which of these was one of the Songhai sultans?

  • A
    Sunni Ali
  • B
    Monteczuma
  • C
    Muhammed Ali
  • D
    Genghis Khan

Question 19

Forces from what nearby country invaded the Songhai empire, leading to its decline?

  • A
    Morocco
  • B
    India
  • C
    Argentina
  • D
    Austria

Question 20

Which of these is NOT an English word that derives from Arabic?

  • A
    Tangerine
  • B
    Mathematics
  • C
    Assassin
  • D
    Sugar

Comments (2)

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Very imformative and very historical.

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Thanks good questions, which I seemed to have forgotten some answers.

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