Questions on the Trans-Sahara Trade

QUESTIONS FROM TRANS SAHARA TRADE 1. **What was the primary commodity traded across the Trans-Saharan routes?** A) Silk B) Gold C) Spices D) Silver 2. **Which animal was most crucial for transportation in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Horse B) Camel C) Elephant D) Ox 3. **Which empire was NOT a significant participant in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Ghana B) Mali C) Songhai D) Roman 4. **What was a key city in the Mali Empire that thrived due to the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Cairo B) Timbuktu C) Alexandria D) Marrakech 5. **Which European country first began to explore and eventually dominate the Trans-Saharan trade routes in the 15th century?** A) Portugal B) Spain C) France D) Italy 6. **Which of the following was NOT a major trade item exported from West Africa across the Sahara?** A) Gold B) Ivory C) Salt D) Tea 7. **The Trans-Saharan trade contributed significantly to the spread of which religion?** A) Christianity B) Islam C) Hinduism D) Buddhism 8. **Who was the famous ruler of the Mali Empire known for his pilgrimage to Mecca that highlighted the wealth of his empire?** A) Sunni Ali B) Mansa Musa C) Askia the Great D) Sundiata Keita 9. **What natural barrier did traders have to cross during the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) The Sahara Desert B) The Nile River C) The Atlas Mountains D) The Congo Rainforest 10. **Which city was an important trade hub on the northern edge of the Sahara?** A) Marrakech B) Cairo C) Sijilmasa D) Tripoli 11. **Which product was primarily exchanged for gold in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Silk B) Salt C) Spices D) Grain 12. **Which region primarily provided the gold in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) East Africa B) Southern Africa C) West Africa D) North Africa 13. **What did the Trans-Saharan trade routes help to develop in West Africa?** A) Industrialization B) Urbanization C) Agriculture D) Mining 14. **Which famous traveler documented his journeys across the Trans-Saharan trade routes in the 14th century?** A) Marco Polo B) Ibn Battuta C) Vasco da Gama D) Hernán Cortés 15. **Which empire succeeded the Mali Empire and continued the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Ghana Empire B) Songhai Empire C) Benin Empire D) Ashanti Empire 16. **What was the primary role of the Berbers in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Producers of gold B) Slave traders C) Middlemen and guides D) Conquerors 17. **Which modern-day country was a significant part of the ancient Ghana Empire?** A) Nigeria B) Ghana C) Mali D) Mauritania 18. **What significant innovation helped improve the efficiency of the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Wheeled carts B) Compass C) Camel saddles D) Steam engines 19. **The city of Gao was an important center for which empire?** A) Ghana Empire B) Mali Empire C) Songhai Empire D) Kanem-Bornu Empire 20. **Which item was NOT commonly traded from the North African coast to the West African empires?** A) Horses B) Weapons C) Cotton cloth D) Coffee 21. **The decline of which empire significantly affected the Trans-Saharan trade routes in the 16th century?** A) Ghana Empire B) Mali Empire C) Songhai Empire D) Roman Empire 22. **What was a significant effect of the Trans-Saharan trade on West African societies?** A) Isolation B) Decline of empires C) Spread of literacy and scholarship D) Reduction in agricultural output 23. **Which empire was known for its wealth and extensive libraries in cities like Timbuktu?** A) Ghana B) Mali C) Songhai D) Benin 24. **Which river was crucial for trade and communication within the Mali and Songhai empires?** A) Nile B) Niger C) Congo D) Zambezi 25. **What role did the Tuareg play in the Trans-Saharan trade?** A) Gold miners B) Traders and guides C) Ivory hunters D) Cotton weavers 26. **Which trade item from West Africa was highly valued by North African traders?** A) Silk B) Spices C) Kola nuts D) Silver 27. **What was a key factor in the decline of the Trans-Saharan trade routes?** A) The Black Death B) The rise of Atlantic trade routes C) The fall of the Roman Empire D) The introduction of motor vehicles 28. **Which city served as a major center for Islamic scholarship in the Mali Empire?** A) Timbuktu B) Gao C) Djenne D) Kano