mckaywest11e

Quiz for Primary Source 14.1: A Portuguese Traveler Describes Swahili City-States of East Africa

Question

1. Which of these best describes Barbosa’s reaction to the cities he visited?

Indifferent to both the cities and their inhabitants

Amazed that non-Europeans could construct such cities

Impressed by their size, order, and appearance

Disdainful of their rudimentary architecture

Correct. The answer is c. For example, Barbosa described Kilwa as having “many fair houses of stone and mortar, with many windows after our fashion, very well arranged in streets, with many flat roofs.”

Incorrect. The answer is c. For example, Barbosa described Kilwa as having “many fair houses of stone and mortar, with many windows after our fashion, very well arranged in streets, with many flat roofs.”

Question

2. Based on Barbosa’s account, what was of most interest to the Portuguese about East African city-states?

Their potential for conversion to Christianity

Their wealth and trade goods

Their strategic location

The diversity of their inhabitants

Correct. The answer is b. For each of the cities he described, Barbosa paid particular attention to evidence of wealth and to the goods that were traded in the city.

Incorrect. The answer is b. For each of the cities he described, Barbosa paid particular attention to evidence of wealth and to the goods that were traded in the city.