1.
What was the key to the domination of Songhay's rulers such as Sunni Ali?
Correct Answer
D. Professional militaries
Explanation
The key to the domination of Songhay's rulers such as Sunni Ali was their professional militaries. This means that the rulers had well-trained and organized military forces at their disposal, which allowed them to successfully expand their empire and maintain control over their territories. Having professional militaries ensured that the rulers had a strong and disciplined fighting force that could effectively defend against external threats and conquer new territories. This military strength played a crucial role in the success and dominance of the Songhay rulers.
2.
What was the role of the kingdom of Kongo in the procurement of slaves for the Portuguese?
Correct Answer
B. They coordinated the slave trade for the Portuguese
Explanation
The kingdom of Kongo played a significant role in coordinating the slave trade for the Portuguese. They actively participated in the procurement of slaves by organizing and overseeing the trade operations. This involvement included capturing and enslaving individuals from the interior regions and facilitating their transportation to the Portuguese for trade. By coordinating the slave trade, the kingdom of Kongo contributed to the Portuguese demand for slaves and benefited economically from their involvement in the trade.
3.
Why did the Portuguese slave trade move down the coast to Angola?
Correct Answer
C. The Portuguese sought a more profitable region for trade
Explanation
The Portuguese slave trade moved down the coast to Angola because they sought a more profitable region for trade. This suggests that the Portuguese believed they could generate higher profits by conducting their slave trade in Angola compared to other regions.
4.
How do historians account for the fact that despite the pressures of the Atlantic slave trade, west Africa's population continued to grow?
Correct Answer
A. American foods provided greater nourishment to the population
Explanation
Historians account for the fact that despite the pressures of the Atlantic slave trade, west Africa's population continued to grow by suggesting that American foods provided greater nourishment to the population. This means that the introduction of new crops from the Americas, such as maize, cassava, and peanuts, contributed to improved nutrition and overall health, leading to population growth. These new crops were more productive and nutritious than traditional African crops, allowing for increased food production and consumption.
5.
In comparing the period of early Islam in west Africa with that of early Christianity, which of the following statements is most accurate?
Correct Answer
D. Neither religion found recent converts to be complete and exclusive adherents
Explanation
Both early Islam in west Africa and early Christianity did not find recent converts to be complete and exclusive adherents. This means that individuals who converted to either religion still retained some of their previous beliefs and practices. The answer suggests that both religions encountered individuals who incorporated elements of their new faith while also maintaining aspects of their traditional beliefs.
6.
In comparison with slave labor in earlier Greek and Roman societies, what was the primary difference in African slave labor systems?
Correct Answer
B. In Africa, there was no notion of land as private property so slave possession was the highest form of economic power
Explanation
In African slave labor systems, the primary difference compared to earlier Greek and Roman societies was that there was no notion of land as private property. This meant that owning slaves was considered the highest form of economic power in Africa. This is in contrast to European societies, where slavery was often based on debt or the result of war. The absence of private land ownership in Africa contributed to the widespread practice of slave ownership as a means of acquiring wealth and exerting control over the labor force.
7.
When comparing the African empire of Songhai with the Mongol empire, which of the following factors was the most similar?
Correct Answer
A. Both relied on a strong military hierarchy to control their conquered regions
Explanation
Both the African empire of Songhai and the Mongol empire relied on a strong military hierarchy to control their conquered regions. This means that both empires had a structured military system in place, with leaders and commanders who were responsible for maintaining control over the territories they had conquered. This similarity suggests that both empires recognized the importance of a strong military presence in order to effectively govern and control their vast empires.
8.
What was the most significant reason for the decline in slavery as a labor system?
Correct Answer
A. It became more profitable to use wage labor
Explanation
The most significant reason for the decline in slavery as a labor system was that it became more profitable to use wage labor. This suggests that the economic factor played a crucial role in the decline of slavery. As industries and economies developed, the use of wage labor became a more efficient and cost-effective option for employers. The profitability of wage labor incentivized the shift away from slavery, leading to its decline as a labor system.
9.
Which of the following effects of the slave trade had the most profound overall effects on Africa?
Correct Answer
A. The gender ratio became distorted
Explanation
The most profound overall effect of the slave trade on Africa was the distortion of the gender ratio. This means that there was a significant imbalance between the number of men and women in African societies due to the slave trade. This had far-reaching consequences for social structures, family dynamics, and population growth. It disrupted traditional norms and practices, leading to long-lasting impacts on African communities.
10.
What role did the Portuguese play in the existing African slave trade?
Correct Answer
A. They became another branch of the traditional slave trade
Explanation
The Portuguese played a significant role in the existing African slave trade by becoming another branch of the traditional slave trade. This means that they actively participated in the buying, selling, and transportation of enslaved Africans. They established trading posts along the African coast and engaged in the capture and shipment of slaves to the Americas. This expansion of the slave trade by the Portuguese contributed to the widespread and brutal enslavement of millions of Africans during this period.
11.
Although relations between Portugal and the Kongo were initially friendly, the Kongo was ultimately destroyed because
Correct Answer
D. Portuguese slave traders undermined the authority of the kings
Explanation
The correct answer is that Portuguese slave traders undermined the authority of the kings. This is because the Portuguese began to exploit the Kongo's slave trade, which led to a significant decline in the power and authority of the Kongo kings. The Portuguese traders captured and sold many Kongolese people as slaves, which weakened the social and political structure of the kingdom. As a result, the Kongo lost control over its own people and resources, ultimately leading to its destruction.
12.
An example of a syncretic cult combining elements of Christianity and African beliefs is
Correct Answer
A. The Antonian movement
Explanation
The Antonian movement is an example of a syncretic cult combining elements of Christianity and African beliefs. This movement emerged in the early 18th century in Angola, led by a prophet named Antonio Congolês. The movement blended Christian teachings with traditional African religious practices, incorporating elements such as ancestor worship and spirit possession. The Antonian movement gained a significant following among the local population and challenged the authority of the Portuguese colonial administration. Ultimately, the movement was suppressed by the Portuguese, but it remains an important example of religious syncretism in African history.
13.
Which of the following could NOT be a leg of the triangular trans-Atlantic trade?
Correct Answer
C. Mexican silver delivered to Manila
Explanation
Mexican silver delivered to Manila could not be a leg of the triangular trans-Atlantic trade because the triangular trade primarily involved the exchange of goods between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Manila is located in the Philippines, which is not part of the trans-Atlantic trade route. Therefore, Mexican silver being delivered to Manila does not fit within the geographical scope of the triangular trade system.