Unit 1: West Africa before the European slave trade - Grade 7 (QUIZ)

Unit 1 Quiz

1. What is a slave?

A. A person who owns land and farms it B. A person owned by another, with no freedom to choose their life C. A leader of a community or kingdom D. A trader of goods like salt and gold

2. How were slaves generally treated in West African societies?

A. They were treated as property with no rights B. They were treated honourably and fairly, allowed to marry and own land C. They were forbidden to marry or own land D. They were always uneducated and mistreated

3. What was one key characteristic of the Ashanti’s form of slavery?

A. They allowed slaves to leave whenever they wanted B. They followed strict rules for looking after slaves C. Slaves were not allowed to marry or own property D. Slavery was forbidden in Ashanti society

4. How long had West Africans traded with North Africans before European involvement?

A. About 50 years B. 100 years C. Many hundreds of years D. Less than a century

5. How did the trade of goods like salt benefit the Mali economy?

A. It caused the Mali economy to collapse B. It made Mali a wealthy kingdom by controlling trade routes and collecting taxes C. It reduced Mali’s wealth by relying too much on salt D. It stopped merchants from coming to Mali

6. What was the role of ancestors in traditional West African religions?

A. They were worshipped as gods B. They were seen as spirits and part of the belief system C. They had no significant role in religious practices D. They were only remembered during festivals

7. How many countries make up West Africa today?

A. 10 B. 12 C. 16 D. 20

8. What were the main types of communities in West Africa before the European slave trade?

A. City-states and kinship-based communities B. Industrial cities and farming villages C. Nomadic tribes and hunting groups D. Military states and kingdoms

9. What were the key skills of the people of the Songhai Empire?

A. Farming and trade B. Medicine, mathematics, and astronomy C. Fishing and pottery D. Warfare and building roads

10. What types of art were West Africans famous for?

A. Wooden sculptures and glass paintings B. Bronze, ivory, and gold artworks C. Silk weaving and clay pottery D. Stone carvings and oil paintings

11. Name the three distinct kingdoms in West Africa before the European slave trade.

A. Songhai, Egypt, and Kongo B. Mali, Benin, and Kongo C. Ashanti, Mali, and Ghana D. Mali, Timbuktu, and Songhai

12. Which two goods were mainly traded in Mali?

A. Oil and spices B. Salt and gold C. Diamonds and silver D. Grain and textiles

13. What two main religions did West Africans follow before the European slave trade?

A. Christianity and Islam B. Islam and traditional religions involving belief in a Creator and spirits C. Hinduism and traditional religions D. Buddhism and Christianity

14. After which pilgrimage did Mansa Musa order the building of the Great Mosque?

A. After his journey to Timbuktu B. After his pilgrimage to Mecca C. After his visit to Kongo D. After a war with Songhai

15. Why did Mansa Musa order the building of the Great Mosque?

A. To spread the religion of Christianity B. To make Timbuktu a centre of learning and religion C. To attract more traders to Mali D. To celebrate his military victories