Examination on History
Class: JSS 2
Term: Third Term
Time: 1 Hour
Total Marks: 70

SECTION A: OBJECTIVES (40 Marks)
Instruction: Answer all questions.

1. ________ was the first great ruler of the Songhai Empire who expanded its territory. (a) Askia Mohammed I (b) Sonni Ali (c) Mansa Musa (d) Sundiata Keita
2. Which of the following rivers was crucial to the location and development of the Songhai Empire? (a) Nile River (b) Congo River (c) Niger River (d) Volta River
3. The main reason for Sonni Ali’s military success was his possession of a powerful ________. (a) cavalry (b) navy (c) infantry (d) archers
4. The Songhai Empire was located primarily in ________ Africa. (a) East (b) North (c) West (d) South
5. All of these were achievements of Askia Mohammed I except ________. (a) establishing a central government (b) expanding the empire (c) founding the empire (d) implementing Sharia law
6. Which of these was NOT a factor in the rise of the Songhai Empire? (a) Strong leadership (b) Commercial activities (c) Lack of unity among tribes (d) Strategic geographical location
7. An example of a security threat Sonni Ali protected his empire from was the ________. (a) Hausa (b) Yoruba (c) Tuaregs (d) Igbo
8. The correct step taken by Askia Mohammed I to ensure fair rule was establishing a justice system based on ________. (a) traditional customs (b) royal decrees (c) Sharia law (d) local councils
9. Which of these is not considered an internal factor in the fall of the Songhai Empire? (a) Succession disputes (b) Weak economy (c) Moroccan invasion (d) Religious problems
10. Timbuktu and Jenne became renowned under Sonni Ali as centres for trade and ________. (a) agriculture (b) Muslim education (c) iron smelting (d) textile production
11. Sonni Ali established a canal in 1480 to connect the Niger River to ________. (a) Gao (b) Walata (c) Timbuktu (d) Jenne
12. Askia Mohammed I expanded the Songhai Empire significantly, making it one of the largest in ________ history. (a) North African (b) East African (c) West African (d) Central African
13. The Songhai government under Askia Mohammed I was characterized by a strong ________ administration. (a) local (b) central (c) tribal (d) nomadic
14. The role of the army in the Songhai Empire’s government was primarily for ________ and expansion. (a) farming (b) trade (c) defence (d) education
15. Islam played a significant role in the Songhai Empire’s ________ development. (a) agricultural (b) technological (c) economic (d) artistic
16. Commercial factors contributed to the rise of Songhai due to its control over ________ routes. (a) sea (b) river (c) land (d) trans-Saharan
17. One of the political factors for the rise of Songhai was the conquest of ________ in 1468. (a) Jenne (b) Walata (c) Timbuktu (d) Segou
18. The enforcement of Islam on non-Muslims was a ________ factor in the fall of Songhai. (a) external (b) economic (c) religious (d) geographical
19. The Moroccan invasion of Songhai occurred in the year ________. (a) 1492 (b) 1528 (c) 1591 (d) 1600
20. The Moroccan army had a distinct advantage due to their use of ________. (a) bows and arrows (b) muskets (c) catapults (d) spears
21. The military view of the fall of Songhai describes it as an ________ conquest. (a) complete (b) partial (c) total (d) successful
22. ________ was a major internal factor that weakened the Songhai Empire after Askia Mohammed I. (a) Strong leadership (b) Succession disputes (c) Economic prosperity (d) Unity among tribes
23. The Songhai Empire’s revenue system relied heavily on ________ from vassal states. (a) taxes (b) donations (c) tribute (d) loans
24. Which of these rulers was responsible for establishing a powerful navy in Songhai? (a) Askia Mohammed I (b) Sonni Ali (c) Mansa Musa (d) Sundiata Keita
25. The empire’s imperial economy was largely based on trade, particularly in gold and ________. (a) textiles (b) spices (c) salt (d) timber
26. One of the geographical factors favoring Songhai’s rise was its access to the ________ River. (a) Benue (b) Senegal (c) Volta (d) Niger
27. The Songhai Empire’s government established regional administrations to ensure effective ________. (a) farming (b) trade (c) governance (d) defence
28. All of these were external factors leading to the fall of Songhai except ________. (a) Moroccan invasion (b) superior weapons (c) civil wars (d) political anarchy
29. The political view of Songhai’s fall refers to the Moroccan conquest as a ________ success. (a) total (b) partial (c) failed (d) complete
30. The use of muskets by the Moroccan army led to the defeat of the Songhai army at the Battle of ________. (a) Gao (b) Tondibi (c) Jenne (d) Walata
31. Askia Mohammed I’s expansion of the empire was largely through ________ conquest. (a) peaceful (b) military (c) diplomatic (d) economic
32. The security of the Songhai Empire under Sonni Ali was threatened by the Fulani and ________. (a) Mandinka (b) Mossi (c) Tuaregs (d) Yoruba
33. A weak army was a significant ________ factor in the decline of the Songhai Empire. (a) external (b) internal (c) geographical (d) commercial
34. The impact of Islamic religion in Songhai led to advancements in ________ and law. (a) agriculture (b) education (c) warfare (d) fishing
35. The overexpansion of the Songhai Empire made it difficult to ________ effectively. (a) trade (b) farm (c) govern (d) defend
36. Sultan Al-Mansur was the ruler of ________ who orchestrated the invasion of Songhai. (a) Egypt (b) Mali (c) Morocco (d) Ghana
37. Which of the following describes the economic view of the incomplete conquest? (a) Full control of trade routes (b) Long-term exploitation of gold wealth (c) Short-lived and partial exploitation of gold wealth (d) Complete destruction of the economy
38. The Songhai Empire’s cultural development was greatly influenced by the spread of ________. (a) Christianity (b) Animism (c) Islam (d) Buddhism
39. After Askia Mohammed I, the Songhai Empire suffered from ________ leadership. (a) strong (b) visionary (c) bad (d) stable
40. The revolt of ________ states contributed to the internal instability of Songhai. (a) neighboring (b) vassal (c) independent (d) distant

SECTION B: THEORY (30 Marks)
Instruction: Answer any THREE questions.

1. (a) Name the major river that was central to the location and development of the Songhai Empire. (2 marks)
(b) Describe two key aspects of Sonni Ali’s military might that enabled his conquests. (3 marks)
(c) Explain the significance of Timbuktu and Jenne to the Songhai Empire under Sonni Ali. (3 marks)
(d) What was the main purpose of the canal built by Sonni Ali to Walata? (2 marks)

2. (a) State two major achievements of Askia Mohammed I during his reign. (2 marks)
(b) How did Askia Mohammed I strengthen the central government of the Songhai Empire? (3 marks)
(c) Explain the role of the army in the government and administration of the Songhai Empire. (3 marks)
(d) Identify two ways the Songhai Empire generated its imperial revenue. (2 marks)

3. (a) Mention two geographical factors that contributed to the rise of the Songhai Empire. (2 marks)
(b) Discuss how political factors, including the qualities of rulers, contributed to the rise of Songhai. (3 marks)
(c) Explain two ways Islam played a role in the economic development of the Songhai Empire. (3 marks)
(d) How did Islam influence the cultural development of the Songhai Empire? Provide two examples. (2 marks)

4. (a) List two internal factors that led to the decline and eventual fall of the Songhai Empire. (2 marks)
(b) Describe the impact of the Moroccan invasion of 1591 on the Songhai Empire. (3 marks)
(c) Explain the “incomplete conquest” of Songhai from a political perspective. (3 marks)
(d) Identify two superior weapons used by the Moroccan army that gave them an advantage over the Songhai forces. (2 marks)

Objective Marking Scheme

Question 1 – ✅ (b) Sonni Ali
Question 2 – ✅ (c) Niger River
Question 3 – ✅ (b) navy
Question 4 – ✅ (c) West
Question 5 – ✅ (c) founding the empire
Question 6 – ✅ (c) Lack of unity among tribes
Question 7 – ✅ (c) Tuaregs
Question 8 – ✅ (c) Sharia law
Question 9 – ✅ (c) Moroccan invasion
Question 10 – ✅ (b) Muslim education
Question 11 – ✅ (b) Walata
Question 12 – ✅ (c) West African
Question 13 – ✅ (b) central
Question 14 – ✅ (c) defence
Question 15 – ✅ (c) economic
Question 16 – ✅ (d) trans-Saharan
Question 17 – ✅ (c) Timbuktu
Question 18 – ✅ (c) religious
Question 19 – ✅ (c) 1591
Question 20 – ✅ (b) muskets
Question 21 – ✅ (b) partial
Question 22 – ✅ (b) Succession disputes
Question 23 – ✅ (c) tribute
Question 24 – ✅ (b) Sonni Ali
Question 25 – ✅ (c) salt
Question 26 – ✅ (d) Niger
Question 27 – ✅ (c) governance
Question 28 – ✅ (c) civil wars
Question 29 – ✅ (b) partial
Question 30 – ✅ (b) Tondibi
Question 31 – ✅ (b) military
Question 32 – ✅ (c) Tuaregs
Question 33 – ✅ (b) internal
Question 34 – ✅ (b) education
Question 35 – ✅ (c) govern
Question 36 – ✅ (c) Morocco
Question 37 – ✅ (c) Short-lived and partial exploitation of gold wealth
Question 38 – ✅ (c) Islam
Question 39 – ✅ (c) bad
Question 40 – ✅ (b) vassal