6th Grade Social Studies
Teacher: Ms. Russac
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Chapter 5: West Africa Test Review Sheet
Test Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Chapter 5, Lesson 2 – Empire of Ghana
Chapter 5, Lesson 3 – Empires of Mali and Songhai
Study Tools
• Class Notes, handouts, homework outlines, maps
Key Points
• The trans-Sahara trade network was important to the growth of West African empires.
• Ghana became a powerful trading empire because of its location and economy
• Traders brought more than goods these empires.
• Islam played an important role in trade (Muslim brotherhood).
• The success of Mali's trade empire affected the spread of Islam.
• Askia Muhammad expanded the Songhai kingdom and advanced the spread of Islam.
• Key Leaders: Sundiata, Mansa Musa, Sunni Ali, Askia Muhammad
• Key Locations: Koumbi, Timbuktu, Niani, Gao
You should be able to explain:
• What combination of geographic and economic factors made Ghana an ideal trade center and
in what ways did Ghanaians benefit from their contact with Arab traders?
• How did two sections of Koumbi differ from each other and why?
• How Sundiata and his armies extend Mali’s trade empire?
• What effect did the West African rulers’ conversion to Islam had on the empire?
• How Askia Muhammad’s strong rule helped Songhai become such a great trade empire?
• The similarities and differences between the important rulers such as Sundiata and Sunni Ali,
or Mansa Musa and Askia Muhammad.
• Why the ruler of Morocco fought for control of Songhai?
Five Paragraph Essay
• Use the one-page essay outline form given to you in class, or download the form from the
library website. Don’t forget our motto “structure is your friend.”
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Write your thesis statement and make sure it answers the question. Remember it is the last
sentence in your introductory paragraph.
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Outline the essay using bullets to support each section in the body.
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Essays are not lists of facts. Connect your facts in each section of the body to the thesis
statement, or claim at the end of your introductory paragraph.
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Essay Questions: How did trade and leadership in help develop Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
into important West African empires.
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Remember: The thesis statement, or claim, must answer the question. Use the formula that
we have practiced in class to set up your claim.
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___________________________________________, because _____________,
_____________, and _____________.
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ESSAY OUTLINES ARE DUE MONDAY, April 22, 2013, in order to use them on the
test!
Russac, page 1, 4/16/2013