Year 7 - History
Trade routes throughout West Africa
Medieval West Africa: why was medieval Mali so successful?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the success of medieval Mali, with a focus on the second-order concept of causation. They build knowledge of the West African landscape and the role it played in Mali's rise. They will also learn about the rise of Islam in the region and Mansa Musa's pilgrimage.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the geography of West Africa and the Ghana Empire.
Key Notes
- West Africa is rich in gold deposits.
- The Sahel is an area between the Sahara Desert and the savannah.
- Important trade routes existed from North Africa through to the Far East.
- These trade routes also stretched across the Sahel.
- Powers like the Ghana Empire profited from these trade routes.
Vocabulary To Learn
- trade: trade means the exchange of goods
- empire: an empire is a group of territories ruled over by one person or group of people
- Sahel: the Sahel is a dry region bordering the southern Sahara Desert
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The Ghana Empire was located in the modern-day country of Ghana.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
West Africa is rich in gold deposits. The Sahel is an area between the Sahara Desert and the savannah.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'trade'
trade means the exchange of goods.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: The Ghana Empire was located in the modern-day country of Ghana. Correction: The Ghana Empire was located in the Sahel, north of the Niger River, which is nowhere near the modern-day country of Ghana.
More Lessons In This Unit
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