Early Societies of West Africa

A savannah is

• a dry desert.
• a jungle.
• a flat grassland.
• a mountain range.

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

• A palm forest

• A family dance

• A farming tool

• A family legend

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

• Large empires ruled over different zones

• Different resources were found in each zone

• The Niger River passed through different zones

• The zones were home to different cultural groups

How did the Niger River encourage trade?

• It was a source of food

• It provided water for baking

• Its annual floods provided rich soil

• It was a transportation route.

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

• Getting protection from raiders

• Having to serve in the army

• Trading with governor

• Paying tribute to the king

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 

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

• the wheel

• the aqueduct

• iron smelting

• paper making

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

• states

• kingdoms

• continents

• religions

What changes did the development of iron tools bring?

• Farmers could clear land and grow crops more efficiently.

• Villages could produce surpluses to trade for other goods.

• People could freely engage in weaving and metalworking.

• all of the above

I provide fresh water and fish.

I provide fertilizer for the savanna and rain forest.

I have been described as a "highway" by West African traders.

Who am I?

• Mansa Musa

• Muhammad

• The Niger River

• The Yellow River