Early Societies in West Africa

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

• a palm forest

• a farming tool

• a family legend

• a traditional dance

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

• paying tribute to the king

• trading with the governor

• having to serve in the army

• getting protection from raiders

What is the best title for this list?

Ghana

Songhai

Mali

• Trading Cities of the Sahara

• Tribes Who Ruled the Desert

• Early Kingdoms of West Africa

• Animal Gods of the Niger Valley

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

• They often engaged in war.

• They understood how to mine.

• They built hot fires with charcoal.

• They carried on long-distance trade.

Few large settlements developed in the Sahara because it was too

• dry

• hilly

• large

• rocky

Compare to the West African savanna, the Sahel has

• better soil

• taller grass

• more cattle

• less rainfall

Which technology did the Nok people adopt as early as 500 BCE?

• the wheel

• the aqueduct

• ironworking

• paper making

From the discover of Jenne-jeno, what did historians learn about the history of West Africa?

• It was a vast area with four zones.

• It became organized into kingdoms

• It depended on several kinds of crops.

• It existed for more than 1600 years.

Suppose a West African community produces the goods listed below. That community is most likely in which vegetation zone?

yams

palm oil

kola nuts

• semidesert

• savanna

• desert

• forest

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

• They offered gifts to the leaders of hostile bands.

• They joined other communities to form villages.

• They lived in isolated areas far from danger.

• They dug ditches around their communities.