Early Societies in West Africa

In West Africa between about 500 and 1600 C.E., Ghana, Songhai, and Mali were three _____ that arose.

• states

• kingdoms

• countries

• religions

Why are historians unable to study written sources from early West African societies?

• No one can translate the documents' language.

• All of the documents were burned in a fire.

• Most of the period has no written records.

• The government owns all of the documents.

The area of semidesert that is both south of the Sahara and has mild vegetations is called the

• Jenné.

• Sahel.

• Savanna.

• Niger.

The Sahara was not a good place for large settlements because it

• is extremely dry.

• rains too much.

• has no mountains.

• is mostly forest.

The savanna is a vegetation zone of tall grasses and trees. This is due to its

• very dry climate

• very rocky plains

• long rainy season

• mountainous land

Which of the following is true about the Niger River?

• It is the longest river in all of West Africa.

• It has the largest fish variety in West Africa.

• It is the only source of water in West Africa.

• It no longer exists in any part of West Africa.

West Africa's geography influenced the__________ that developed there.

• forms of authority

• extended families

• religious beliefs

• patterns of trade

Why did people of West Africa trade with people from different areas?

• It symbolized trust toward their neighbors.

• Each vegetation zone had different resources.

• It helped establish marketplaces in each zone.

• It is unknown why trade developed there.

In early West Africa, major rivers, such as the Niger River, functioned as

• battlegrounds.

• refugees' homes.

• trading routes.

• all of the above

By around 4000 B.C.E., some people in West Africa formed farming communities made up of

• village neighbors.

• religious officials.

• different tribes.

• extended families.