New
New
Year 7
Islam in medieval West Africa
I can describe the role played by Islam in the growth of the Mali Empire.
New
New
Year 7
Islam in medieval West Africa
I can describe the role played by Islam in the growth of the Mali Empire.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Islam was the dominant religion throughout North Africa.
- Muslim traders helped other Muslim traders.
- The Islamic tradition prized literacy and education.
- Islamic thought influenced the culture of the Mali Empire.
- Many books were copied or written in the Mali Empire, and mosques were built to house some of these.
Keywords
Islam - Islam is the religion of Muslim people
Trade - trade means the exchange of goods
Muslim - a Muslim is a follower of the religion of Islam
Common misconception
Muslims mainly live in the Middle East.
Islam is the second most popular religion in the world, with Muslim-majority countries spread as far as Morocco in the west to Indonesia in the east.
Show students a list or a video of some of the key discoveries from the Golden Age of Islam to help them appreciate what a global power Islam was at this point in time.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
The religion of Muslim people is .
Q2.
Which religion or worldview did most of the goldfield miners of Western Africa during the medieval period follow?
Islam
Christianity
Q3.
Match the name of the leader with the correct information. Write the correct letter in each box.
carried a golden bow along with a golden quiver full of golden arrows
nicknamed the ‘Lion Prince’ and ruled with respect
believed to be a sorcerer who used his powers to conquer the land
Q4.
What did the elite of medieval Europe use the gold for? Select all of the correct answers..
They didn't; they traded it for salt.
Q5.
The Sankore Mosque was improved upon under the leadership of Mansa Musa for which one of the following reasons?
because it was falling down
to show other empires how much gold Mansa Musa had
Q6.
An excavation in the earth to extract minerals is known as a .
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
A follower of the religion of Islam is a .
Q2.
In which region of Africa did Islam begin to spread in the 7th century?
East Africa
West Africa
South Africa
Q3.
In which of the following areas did Islam made great scientific and technological advances?
mining
Q4.
Which of the following examples is a way in which knowledge was usually shared prior to the spread of Islam?
by traders
through ancient books
Q5.
How was knowledge in West Africa usually shared after the spread of Islam?
by traders
orally through the songs of poet-historians known as griots
Q6.
Which flourishing trade emerged in Timbuktu after the spread of Islam?
salt trade
gold trade
Additional material
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