West Africa study guide

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

• to farm

• to trade

• to mine gold

• to fight enemies

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

• a palm forest

• a farming tool

• a family legend

• a traditional dance

Few large settlements developed in the Sahara because it was too

• dry.

• hilly.

• large.

• rocky.

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

Use the map and your knowledge of history to complete the sentences. Write the word or phrase on the line or in the space provided.

17. Jenne-jeno was located in the vegetation zone called the _________.

• savanna

• rainforest

• desert

• mountains

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

yams • palm oil • kola nuts

• forest

• desert

• savanna

• semidesert

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 was a transportation route.

• Its annual floods provided rich soil.

• It provided water for baking.

Compared to the West African savanna, the Sahel has

• better soil.

• taller grass.

• more cattle.

• less rainfall.

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

• They dug ditches around their communities.

• They lived in isolated areas far from danger.

• They joined other communities to form villages.

• They offered gifts to the leaders of hostile bands.