Question 1

From the early 900s, the major export item from Mapungubwe to Swahili cities was:

Accepted Answer

Mapungubwe was known for its rich gold deposits, and gold was the major export item from Mapungubwe to the Swahili cities along the East African coast.

Question 2

The enclosure complex of the Zimbabwe seems to have been all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

The enclosure complex of the Zimbabwe, particularly the Great Zimbabwe, was known for its solid stone walls, and some parts were indeed plastered or painted on the inside, and densely packed with houses. However, it was not an Islamic law school; the site is generally considered a pre-colonial city that was a center of trade and culture in Southern Africa.

Question 3

A __________ bearing a date around 1505 was found in a burned and collapsed structure in the Great Zimbabwe compound, suggesting that trade routes were still viable at this period.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is a Chinese porcelain dish. This finding indicates that trade with distant regions, including China, was still active during this period, highlighting the extensive trade networks Great Zimbabwe was part of.

Question 4

The regularization of a trans-Saharan trade by the __________ in the mid-500s had a profound effect in the Sahel.

Accepted Answer

The Romans played a significant role in the regularization of trans-Saharan trade routes, which facilitated the exchange of goods and culture between North Africa and the Sahel region.

Question 5

In contrast to their Swahili colleagues, the kings of ______ avoided a combination of traditional notions of kingship with Islam.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In contrast to their Swahili colleagues, the...

Question 6

The onset of ___________ eventually led to the shrinking of the Malian empire by 1450.

Accepted Answer

The onset of drought significantly impacted the Malian Empire, leading to its decline by 1450. Environmental challenges, including drought, undermined agricultural productivity and economic stability, contributing to the empire's weakening.

Question 7

Scholars have explained the purpose of Sungbo's Eredo as being all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Sungbo's Eredo, a monumental construction in Nigeria, was primarily built for purposes such as marking boundaries, facilitating toll collection, and protection against enemies and elephants. There is no historical evidence to suggest that stimulating the economy through construction projects was a purpose for its construction.

Question 8

The epic of Sundiata demonstrates that:

Accepted Answer

The epic of Sundiata, which tells the story of the founder of the Mali Empire, illustrates how individuals who might initially appear marginal or insignificant in their communities can rise to challenge and transform the established social order. Sundiata Keita, despite facing adversity early in life, including exile, ultimately becomes a powerful leader, demonstrating that one's initial status does not fix their destiny.

Question 9

In 1270, a new dynasty of kings, the _____________, emerged some 300 miles south of Aksum, in the region of today's capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.

Accepted Answer

In 1270, the Solomonid dynasty emerged in the region south of Aksum, near what is now Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. This dynasty claimed descent from the biblical King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, marking a significant chapter in Ethiopian history.

Question 10

When one of local chiefs centralized rule in 1137, the new kingdom of ________ unified the highlands and battled the Muslims in the lowlands on the Red Sea coast in the name of a Christian Crusade.

Accepted Answer

The kingdom that unified the highlands and battled the Muslims in the lowlands on the Red Sea coast in the name of a Christian Crusade in 1137 was Ethiopia. This period marked the beginning of a long history of Christian-Muslim conflicts in the region.

Question 11

Nubian kingdoms prospered in large part as the result of the rapid spread of the animal-driven ________ invented in Egypt in the first century CE.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is the waterwheel, which was a significant invention that allowed for more efficient irrigation and agriculture, contributing to the prosperity of Nubian kingdoms.

Question 12

A ruling in the mid-800s by an Egyptian Muslim judge allowed Nubian Muslims to acquire __________.

Accepted Answer

The ruling allowed Nubian Muslims to acquire private property, which was significant in terms of economic and social rights.

Question 13

________ Christianity, centered in Egypt, emphasizes the sole divine nature of Jesus.

Accepted Answer

Coptic Christianity, which is primarily based in Egypt, emphasizes the unity of Christ's divine nature, distinguishing it from other Christian traditions that might have different views on the nature of Jesus.

Question 14

To its neighbors, the Zagwe kingdom was 'Ethiopia' or '_________', names rooted in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is B) Abyssinia. The term "Abyssinia" is historically associated with the region that encompasses modern-day Ethiopia and was commonly used in reference to the Zagwe kingdom by its neighbors. This name, like "Ethiopia," is deeply rooted in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles, reflecting the ancient and religious significance of the region.

Question 15

The religious heritage of the Solomonids still lives on in Ethiopia, and among the _________, who form a small minority in Jamaica and are associated with Bob Marley.

Accepted Answer

The religious heritage of the Solomonids is closely associated with Rastafarianism, a religious and social movement that originated in Jamaica in the 1930s. Bob Marley, a famous Jamaican singer and songwriter, was a prominent Rastafarian, and his music played a significant role in spreading the movement's beliefs worldwide. Rastafarians regard Ethiopia as their spiritual homeland, a connection that traces back to the belief in the divine lineage of the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I, who is considered a messianic figure in Rastafarianism. This belief is partly rooted in the legend of the Solomonic dynasty, to which Haile Selassie claimed descent.

Question 16

In the mid-1400s, Ethiopian kings adopted a Christianized version of _______________ law, The Law of the Kings (Fetha Nagast) from the Egyptian Copts.

Accepted Answer

The Fetha Nagast, or "Law of the Kings," was influenced by Roman law, which had been integrated into the Christian legal tradition by the Egyptian Copts.

Question 17

Many small rivers open into the Indian Ocean, but only the _________ River in the south was large enough to allow longer-range water traffic and the building of inland towns.

Accepted Answer

The Zambezi River is the correct answer because it is a major river in Africa that flows into the Indian Ocean and has historically supported longer-range water traffic and the development of inland towns along its course.

Question 18

Swahili cities were characterized by a central open square containing a __________, the main city well, and the tombs of saints.

Accepted Answer

Swahili cities often had a central open square that contained a mosque, which was a key feature of these cities, reflecting the Islamic influence in the region. This area also included the main city well and the tombs of saints, which were important for both religious and practical reasons.

Question 19

By 1400, Swahili city-states included all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Limpopo is a river in southern Africa, not a Swahili city-state. The Swahili city-states were located along the coast of East Africa, including places like Mogadishu, Zanzibar, and Gede.

Question 20

Among the golden objects found among the items of the royal dynasty of Mapungubwe, signifying the power and magic of the kings, was a ____________.

Accepted Answer

The golden rhinoceros is one of the most famous artifacts discovered among the items of the royal dynasty of Mapungubwe, symbolizing the power and magic of the kings.

Quiz 14: Patterns of State Formation in Africa, 600-1450 C.E