Why Africans Never Invented the Wheel

The video explores the history and spread of the wheel, debunking the myth of its ancient origins. It highlights the wheel's development in Mesopotamia and its limited spread in Africa due to terrain challenges and the adoption of camels. European influence reintroduced wheeled vehicles in Africa, but their use remained limited. The video concludes that the wheel was a specialized invention, not universally adopted.

What is a common misconception about the wheel's invention?

• It was invented before agriculture.

• It was invented in Mesopotamia.

• It was invented in sub-Saharan Africa.

• It was invented after animal domestication.

Where did the wheel likely see its most widespread early adoption?

• Western Europe

• Egypt

• Mesopotamia

• China

What evidence suggests the wheel reached sub-Saharan West Africa?

• Written records

• Rock art paintings

• Archaeological excavations

• Oral traditions

What was a major reason for the wheel's decline in Africa?

• Lack of interest

• Adoption of camels

• Development of new technologies

• Invasion by Europeans

Which animal was more effective than wheeled transport in the Sahara?

• Oxen

• Camels

• Elephants

• Horses

What was a unique use of the wheel in the Kingdom of Dahomey?

• Ceremonial purposes

• Transporting goods

• Agricultural tools

• Military chariots

When did Europeans begin reintroducing the wheel to Africa?

• 20th century

• 15th century

• 18th century

• 12th century

What was a significant barrier to the use of wheeled vehicles in West Africa?

• Mountainous terrain

• Lack of roads

• Tsetse fly

• Dense forests

Which African kingdom is noted for using human-drawn carriages?

• Ghana

• Mali

• Dahomey

• Songhai

What was a common use for locally manufactured wheels in African kingdoms?

• Building houses

• Mounting cannons

• Transporting livestock

• Children's toys