Topic 1.5 Reflective Questions

Answer these questions directly into the submission area.

1. Which African state best demonstrates innovation in governance? Explain your reasoning.
2. How did trade networks (Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Trans-Saharan) shape African political and cultural systems?
3. Compare the use of religion as a source of legitimacy in African and Eurasian states during this period.
4. In what ways do these examples challenge stereotypes about Africa’s “isolation” before European contact?