Download This Week`s Question: Why are c

Name ______________________________________
Date ___________________
World History Studies Weekly Newspaper
Week 8- African Kingdoms
Homework- Due _____________________________ (Answers on loose-leaf, label each article)
Read- Good as Gold
1) Why were the people of West Africa willing to trade an item as valuable as gold for
salt?
2) What challenges did caravans who traveled along the Trans-Saharan trade route
face?
3) What items were exchanged on the Trans-Saharan trade route? Which of these are
still important today? Why?
Read- African Kingdoms
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Where do some archaeologists believe that the first humans lived?
Who conquered the Kushites around 1550 B.C.?
Which kingdom was the first and most powerful ancient African kingdom?
How was Songhai able to take control of all river regions and river trade?
Which kingdom was located the rainforest?
What happened to the ancient kingdoms of Africa? Make a list and compare the
outcomes. Do you see any patterns? What lessons might we learn from this for our
world today?
Read- Emperor Mansa Musa
1) List 4 of Mansa Musa’s accomplishments.
Read- Sahara Desert
1) The Sahara is the second largest desert on Earth. Which desert is the largest?
2) List 2 disadvantages of nomadic life when traveling through the Sahara desert.
3) Where would nomadic people stop to get water while they traveled?
Read- This Week’s Question: Why are camels called “ships of the desert?”
1) Make a drawing of a camel, labeling all the adaptations that help it survive while living
in the desert. Include a brief description with your diagram labels.
Read-Salt
1) Where did the people of ancient West African kingdoms work?
Name _______________________________
Date _______________
World History Studies Weekly Newspaper: Week 20- The Islamic Empire
Homework: Due ________________________ (Answers on loose-leaf, label each article)
Read- Muhammad and the Islamic Empire
1) What is the Islamic language called?
2) What major event in Muhammad’s life led him to become the prophet of Islam?
3) What is the holy book of Islam called?
4) Why did some people become angered by Muhammad’s teachings?
5) What was the place of worship called that the followers of Muhammad built?
6) Describe what occurred when Muhammad returned to Mecca with his army in A.D. 630.
7) What do people who practice Islam call themselves?
Read- Foundations of Islam
1) Make a chart showing the Five Pillars of Faith of the Islamic religion, and illustrate each
one.
2) Where is the Dome of the Rock located? Explain the significance, or importance, of the
Dome of the Rock.
3) Describe what occurs during Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.
4) Make a chart to show Muslim contributions to the world in each of the following areas:
mathematics, science, medicine, and literature.
5) Describe the accomplishments of Muhammad al-Razi.
6) How do Muslims decorate their mosques?
7) Who started the Ottoman Empire? What continents did he conquer?
Read- This Week’s Question: Where is Islam?
1) What led Muslim armies to conquer people of other territories and establish the Islamic
religion in these areas?
2) What made it easier for Muslim armies to conquer the Persian and Byzantine empires?
3) In what areas can we find the Islamic religion practiced the most?
Read- World Geography: Mecca
1) Why is Mecca considered the holiest city in the Islamic religion?
2) What is the Kaaba?
3) Why do 2 to 3 million people visit Mecca each year?
4) Why are guards and blockades found along the roads leading to Mecca?
5) In which part of Saudi Arabia is Mecca located? (please use cardinal directions)
Read- Trades and Technology: Islamic Calendar
1) What do Muslims base the Islamic calendar on?
2) How is the Islamic calendar similar to our calendar? How is it different?
****Complete Mapping and Charting: The Middle East on the back of your newspaper.