1.3 Africa’s Ancient Societies

• Egypt developed highly advanced writing, architecture, and mathematics
• Mali expanded on the wealth of Ghana and was renowned for its universities in Timbuktu
• Ghana's wealth was based on control of the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade.


  True
• Which ancient African civilization had a decentralized political system with a powerful king?

  Ghana
• What was the economic focus of the Songhai Empire?

  Trade and agriculture
• Aksum adopted Christianity as the state religion
• Mali expanded on the wealth of Ghana and established renowned libraries in Timbuktu
• What three types of structures did ancient African civilizations have?

  Political, economic, social
• Ghana used gold as currency in their trans-Saharan trade.
• Ghana dominated the trans-Saharan trade in gold and salt.


  True
• What educational advancements influenced social roles in Mali?

  Islamic scholarship
• Kush conquered Egypt for a period, demonstrating their power.
• Match the civilization with its key characteristic:

  Egypt ↔️ Advanced writing and mathematics

  Kush ↔️ Conquered Egypt

  Aksum ↔️ Adopted Christianity

  Ghana ↔️ Controlled gold and salt trade
• The Mali civilization was renowned for its universities and libraries in cities like Timbuktu.
• What type of political structure did Egypt have under the pharaohs?

  Highly centralized monarchy
• What were the two main trade networks used by ancient African civilizations?

  Trans-Saharan and Red Sea
• Match the civilization with its political structure:

  Egypt ↔️ Centralized monarchy

  Kush ↔️ Military-focused monarchy

  Aksum ↔️ Centralized monarchy with Christianity

  Ghana ↔️ Decentralized political system
• The Ghana civilization had a decentralized political system with a powerful king
• Which civilization maintained pyramids as part of its artistic expression?

  Kush
• Match the civilization with its cultural traditions and beliefs:

  Egypt ↔️ Polytheistic religion

  Aksum ↔️ Adopted Christianity

  Ghana ↔️ Animistic beliefs

  Mali ↔️ Islamic scholarship
• The Ghana, Mali, and Songhai empires expanded economic and political power in West Africa.
• Aksum adopted Christianity as the state religion under its king.


  True
• Ghana was a wealthy trading empire that controlled the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade.

  True
• Order the key ancient African civilizations from oldest to most recent based on their approximate periods of influence:

  1️⃣ Egypt

  2️⃣ Kush

  3️⃣ Aksum

  4️⃣ Ghana

  5️⃣ Mali

  6️⃣ Songhai
• Match each ancient African civilization with its economic system:

  Egypt ↔️ Agriculture, trade, and industry

  Kush ↔️ Controlled gold and iron resources

  Aksum ↔️ Trading empire

  Ghana ↔️ Trans-Saharan trade

  Mali ↔️ Trade-based wealth expansion

  Songhai ↔️ Agriculture and manufacturing
• Match each ancient African civilization with its social structure:

  Egypt ↔️ Rigid class system with priests

  Kush ↔️ Hierarchical, influenced by Egypt

  Aksum ↔️ Diverse population with Arabian influence

  Ghana ↔️ Hierarchical classes, clan-based families

  Mali ↔️ Maintained classes, promoted education

  Songhai ↔️ Diverse population, complex hierarchy
• Which African civilization maintained social classes but promoted Islamic scholarship and education?

  Mali
• The Kush kingdom conquered Egypt for a period and developed its own culture and language.

  True
• What was the political structure of ancient Egypt?

  Centralized monarchy
• Mali maintained social classes but promoted Islamic education and scholarship.

  True
• Aksum developed its own currency and commercial networks to control trade.


  True
• The Songhai Empire was the largest in West Africa and controlled major trade routes.


  True
• The social structures of ancient African civilizations varied from rigid class systems to more diverse hierarchies.

  True
• Match the civilization with its key political structure:

  Egypt ↔️ Highly centralized monarchy

  Kush ↔️ Monarchy with a military focus

  Aksum ↔️ Centralized monarchy with Christianity
• Which was the largest West African empire?

  Songhai
• Which city in Mali was renowned for its universities and libraries?

  Timbuktu
• Order the key ancient African civilizations based on their geographical location from north to south:

  1️⃣ Egypt: Nile River Valley

  2️⃣ Kush: Nubia
• What are the key characteristics of the Songhai civilization?

  Diverse population, complex hierarchy
• The Kush kingdom developed its own culture and language after conquering Egypt.


  True
• Order the following civilizations based on their political structures from most centralized to least centralized:

  1️⃣ Egypt

  2️⃣ Kush

  3️⃣ Aksum

  4️⃣ Ghana

  5️⃣ Mali

  6️⃣ Songhai