Ghana Empire

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/ghana-empire

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the capital of Ghana Empire?Koumbi Saleh, a major commercial hub
2. What is the geographical extent?Covered parts of modern-day Mauritania and Mali
3. What is the approximate period of dominance?Circa 8th to 13th centuries CE
4. What was the Ghana Empire and when did it exist?The Ghana Empire, also called Wagadou, was a powerful kingdom in West Africa that grew strong between the 8th and 13th centuries.
5. Why was gold so important to the Ghana Empire?Gold was a rich resource that the empire used to collect taxes and keep the king’s treasury full, while people could still use gold coins for everyday trade.

Hegemon: A dominant state or entity that exerts political, economic, or cultural influence over others.
Trans-Saharan Trade: The historical network of trade routes connecting North Africa with sub-Saharan Africa across the Sahara Desert.
CE (Common Era): A calendar system used to count years, equivalent to AD (Anno Domini).
Tribute: Payment made by one state or ruler to another, especially as a sign of dependence or submission.