Geography and Trade
Few large settlements developed in the Sahara because it was too
A. dry.
B. hilly.
C. large.
D. rocky.
A. dry
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
A. to farm
Which technology did the Nok people adopt as early as 500 B.C.E.?
A. the wheel
B. the aqueduct
C. ironworking
D. paper making
C. ironworking
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
D. getting protection from raiders
Compared to the West African savanna, the Sahel has
A. better soil.
B. taller grass.
C. more cattle.
D. less rainfall.
D. less rainfall
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.
C. They joined other communities to form villages.
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
B. a farming tool
Which product of West Africa was most important in the trade across the Sahara?
A. oil
B. gold
C. timber
D. clothing
B. gold
Suppose a West African community produces the goods like yams, palm oil, and kola nuts. That community is most likely in which vegetation zone?
A. forest
B. desert
C. savanna
D. semidesert
A. forest
By around 4000 B.C.E., some people in West Africa formed farming communities made up of
A. village neighbors.
B. religious officials.
C. different tribes.
D. extended families.
D. extended families.
From the discovery of Jenne-jeno, what did historians learn about the history of West Africa?
A. It was a vast area with four zones.
B. It became organized into kingdoms.
C. It depended on several kinds of crops.
D. It existed for more than 1,600 years.
D. It existed for more than 1,600 years.
Which of the following is a way rulers of a West African kingdom became wealthy?
A. They collected taxes from their bought and sold goods.
B. They raised armies and conquered other trading areas.
C. They collected tributes from other rulers or countries.
D. all of the above
D. all of the above
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.
B. Different resources were found in each zone.
How did villages form in early West Africa?
A. A controlling leader forcefully took over many groups.
B. Family-based communities joined together for help.
C. Communities often went to war over trade disputes.
D. Groups developed closely together due to gold resources.
B. Family-based communities joined together for help.
Archaeologists 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.
D. They carried on long-distance trade.
Kingdoms in West Africa relied both on local trade and
A. exporting to Europe.
B. trans-Saharan trade.
C. mobile flea markets.
D. traveling farmers.
B. trans-Saharan trade.
How did the Niger River encourage trade?
A. It was a source of food.
B. It was a transportation route.
C. Its annual floods provided rich soil.
D. It provided water for baking.
B. It was a transportation route.
What changes did the development of iron tools bring?
A. Farmers could clear land and grow crops more efficiently.
B. Villages could produce surpluses to trade for other goods.
C. People could freely engage in weaving and metalworking.
D. all of the above
D. all of the above
Archaeologists have found remains of high walls around one ancient West African community. What does this suggest about it?
A. The inhabitants made metal tools.
B. The inhabitants had too little water.
C. The inhabitants faced a threat of attacks.
D. The inhabitants did not need to grow crops.
C. The inhabitants faced a threat of attacks.
Ghana, Mali, and Songhai are
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
C. Early Kingdoms of West Africa
Write your answer to the final question on the white board. Do not reveal it until you are told to do so.
In early West Africa, what city, surrounded by a large wall, was located where the Niger River and Bani River meet?
Jenne-jeno