U3 L4: Songhai Empire (7.23)

Place the West African Empires, and groups, in the correct chronological order. (oldest on the left)

• Soninke People

• Songhai Empire

• Mali Empire

• Ghana Empire

• Moroccan Invasion

Label the three West African Empires on the map.

a

b

c

Mali

Ghana

Songhai

Label the important rivers and bodies of water.

a

b

c

d

e

Congo River

Niger River

Nile River

Mediterranean Sea

Gulf of Guinea

Label the main cities and physical features of West Africa.

a

b

c

d

e

f

Sahara Desert

Djenne

Gao

Trans-Saharan Trade Route

Timbuktu

Mecca

Who conquered most of the Mali Empire’s territory by 1468, creating the Songhai Empire?

• Sunni Ali

• Geographical proximity to Niger River

• Askia Muhammed

• Ahmad al-Mansur

Which of the following improvements did Askia Muhammed make to the Songhai Empire?

• Created a huge, tightly knit empire

• Introduced a system of currency as well as weights & measures to regulate trade

• All of the above

• Developed more trade with Asia & Europe

What posed competition for trans-Saharan caravans and weakened the Songhai Empire?

• Sea routes by Portuguese

• Conquering most of the Mali Empire

• Introduction of a system of currency

• Geographical proximity to Niger River

What remained an important trade area where mosques & Islamic schools were built?

• Timbuktu

• Goa

• Gao

• Ahmad al-Mansur

Did Songhai trade slaves?

• No, trading slaves was against the law

• Yes, Slave trade was an important part of their economy

• Slave trade was only used during certain events

Did Timbuktu have a university?

• No, Timbuktu was only a trading hub

• Timbuktu had the Sankore University of Timbuktu one of the reasons Timbuktu was a major center for scholarship

• Timbuktu had the University of Al-Karaouine, many came to study here

• No, Timbuktu was a small city with no educational buildings