Early Societies in West Africa

 What is the best title for this list?
 • Ghana • Songhai • Mali

• A. Trading Cities of the Sahara
• B. Tribes Who Ruled the Desert
• C. Early Kingdoms of West Africa
• D. Animal Gods of the Niger Valley

 Which of these clues about the African past describes an artifact?

• A. a palm forest
• B. a farming tool
• C. a family legend
• D. a traditional dance 

Few large settlements developed in the Sahara because it was too

• A. dry
• B. hilly.
• C. large
• D. rocky.

What is the main reason why people in different vegetation zones traded with each other?

• A. Large empires ruled over different zones.
• B. Different resources were found in each zone.
• C. The Niger River passed through different zones.
• D. The zones were home to different cultural groups.

Why did extended-family groups first settle south of the Sahara?

• A. to farm
• B. to trade
• C. to mine gold
• D. to fight enemies 

What did extended-family groups do for defense against dangerous floods or enemies? 

• A. They dug ditches around their communities
• B. They lived in isolated areas far from danger.
• C. They joined other communities to form villages. 
• D. They offered gifts to the leaders of hostile bands.

Which technology did the Nok people adopt as early as 500 B.C.E.? 

• A. the wheel 
• B. the aqueduct
• C. iron smelting 
• D. paper making 

Archeologists found copper at Jenne-jeno. The nearest copper mines are 600 miles away. What does this indicate about the people of Jenne-jeno? 

• A. They often engaged in war. 
• B. They understood how to mine.
• C. They built hot fires with charcoal.
• D. They carried on long-distance trade. 

Which of these was an advantage of becoming part of an empire?

• A. paying tribute to the king
• B. trading with the governor
• C. having to serve in the army
• D. getting protection from raiders

Which product of West Africa was most important in the trade across the Sahara? 

• A. oil
• B. gold 
• C. timber
• D. clothing