History and Geography of West Africa Flashcards
6 cards from real BECE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 History and Geography of West Africa flashcards as text
Which river is the longest in West Africa and flows through several countries including Guinea, Mali, and Nigeria?
Answer: Niger River
The Niger River is the longest river in West Africa, stretching about 4,180 km through multiple countries.
The trans-Saharan trade routes were historically important in West Africa primarily for trading which two commodities?
Answer: Gold and salt
Gold from the south and salt from the Sahara were the main commodities of the trans-Saharan trade that enriched West African empires.
Which West African empire, known for its wealth and the pilgrimage of Mansa Musa, was at its peak in the 14th century?
Answer: Mali Empire
The Mali Empire reached its peak under Mansa Musa in the 14th century and was renowned for its immense gold wealth.
What is the name of the large semi-arid belt that stretches across Africa south of the Sahara Desert?
Answer: The Sahel
The Sahel is the semi-arid transitional zone between the Sahara Desert to the north and the wetter savanna regions to the south.
Which colonial power controlled the Gold Coast (present-day Ghana) before it gained independence in 1957?
Answer: Britain
The Gold Coast was a British colony and became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence in 1957.
The harmattan is a dry, dusty wind in West Africa that blows from which direction?
Answer: From the northeast, off the Sahara Desert
The harmattan blows from the northeast across the Sahara Desert, carrying dust and causing dry, hazy conditions in West Africa.