Early West African Societies

Early settlements were usually located near _______________.

• Oil

• Water

• Gold

• Lumber

• Mountains

What was an important result of the Agricultural (Neolithic) Revolution?

• New sources of energy became available

• People became more nomadic

• Food supplies become more reliable

• Populations decreased

The development of farming led to _______________________.

• The building of permanent settlements

• A return to a nomadic lifestyle

• The rise of hunting as an important job

• A greater need for oil

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.

How did villages form in early West Africa?

• A controlling leader forcefully took over many groups.

• Family-based communities joined together to help each other.

• Communities often went to war over trade disputes.

• Groups developed closely together due to gold resources.

What are the Nok, a people from West Africa during 500 B.C.E., known for?

• mastering ironworking

• fishing with a thin wire

• building with concrete

• forming the first cities

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