Unit 21: Paper 3 (HL) — History of Africa & the Middle East
Topic 21.6: Pre-colonial African states (1800–1900) Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB History Topic 21.6. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
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Choose the name of the successor who ruled the Mahdist state in Sudan after the death of Muhammad Ahmad in 1885.
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Compare and contrast the methods used by Shaka to build the Zulu kingdom and Moshoeshoe to build the Sotho kingdom in the nineteenth century.
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Which Niger Delta trader rose from slave status to found the trading state of Opobo in 1870?
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Examine the causes and effects of the Mfecane/Difaqane in southern Africa in the early nineteenth century.
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Discuss the reasons for the rise of Samori Toure's Mandinka Empire and the reasons for its eventual decline.
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Examine the political, social and economic organization of two pre-colonial African states of your choice from this period.
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Evaluate the reasons for the rise of the Sokoto Caliphate under Usman Dan Fodio.
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Examine the reasons for the rise of the Mahdist state in Sudan in the late nineteenth century.
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Discuss the importance of trade in the rise of the Niger Delta trading states under Nana and Jaja.
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To what extent was Menelik II responsible for the unification and expansion of Ethiopia?
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Evaluate the reasons for the successful expansion of the Asante empire under Osei Tutu.
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To what extent did strong leadership explain the rise of pre-colonial African states in the nineteenth century?
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Compare and contrast the reasons for the rise of the Mahdist state in Sudan and the Ndebele kingdom in Southern Africa.
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Examine the reasons for the successful unification of Ethiopia in the second half of the nineteenth century.
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To what extent did access to modern weapons explain the success of pre-colonial African state-builders in this period?
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Evaluate the view that Menelik II's victory at Adwa in 1896 was due mainly to his diplomatic skill rather than military strength.
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Evaluate the reasons for the successful establishment of the Ndebele kingdom under Mzilikazi and Lobengula.
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Discuss the reasons for the rise of the Mahdist state in Sudan in the 1880s.
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To what extent was the death of Muhammad Ahmad in 1885 a turning point in the history of the Mahdist state?
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Compare and contrast the methods used by Samori Toure and Menelik II to build and defend their states.
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