14 African Kingdoms and Trade Networks Free Online FlashCards

How did Ghana (Wagadu) build influence in the western Sahel?

Ghana, also known as Wagadu, gained influence by linking southern gold-producing regions with Saharan salt mines and taxing trade.

Which West African empire followed Ghana and preceded Songhai?

The Mali Empire was founded in the thirteenth century, after the rise of Ghana and before Songhai expanded across major trade centers and routes.

Which two goods were central to trans-Saharan commerce?

Gold and salt were central to trans-Saharan commerce. Kola nuts, cloth, and other products were traded as well.

How did Islam spread through the Sahel, and what happened to local practices?

Islam spread gradually through commercial and scholarly connections. Many rulers and urban residents became Muslim, while local religious practices continued.

What drew wide attention to Mali in 1324–25?

Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324–25 drew wide attention to Mali’s wealth and connections.

What made Timbuktu an important city in Songhai’s era?

Timbuktu became a market and center of Islamic learning. In Songhai’s era, its schools and mosques helped make it a major center for Islamic scholarship in Africa.

What role did Djenné play in regional trade?

Djenné connected river traffic with routes leading toward gold- and salt-producing regions.

Name one Lake Chad state and one Hausa trade city.

Kanem and later Bornu flourished around Lake Chad. Hausa cities such as Kano and Katsina were centers of regional trade and craft production.

What connected East Africa’s interior with Indian Ocean markets?

Swahili-speaking communities built port cities that connected the African interior with Indian Ocean markets.

What did East African ports exchange for imported goods?

East African ports traded inland gold and ivory for goods such as textiles, beads, ceramics, and metal wares.

When did Kilwa and Songo Mnara grow especially prosperous?

Kilwa and Songo Mnara grew especially prosperous between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries.

What was Great Zimbabwe, and when did it flourish?

Great Zimbabwe was a Shona city and political center in a gold-rich region, flourishing from the eleventh to fifteenth centuries.