1. What physical characteristics made camels better suited than horses for crossing the Sahara Desert?

2. How did the development of different camel saddles contribute to the expansion of trans-Saharan trade?

3. What goods did West African merchants trade for, and what did they offer in exchange?

1. What role did the cities of Timbuktu and Gao play in Mali's economy and Islamic culture?

2. How did Mali's wealth from trade differ from the primary occupation of most of its residents?

1. What administrative challenges did Mali's rulers face as trade and wealth increased, and how did they address them?

2. How did Sundiata establish Mali as a major trading power despite his early circumstances?

3. How did military expansion funded by trade revenue help Mali integrate new populations into its economy?

1. What was unusual about Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca, and what did it reveal about Mali?

2. How did Mansa Musa's religious leadership influence the spread of Islam in West Africa?

3. What happened to Mali's power after Mansa Musa's death, and which kingdom replaced it?