Early Societies in West Africa

Name a specific geographic factor that contributed to the growth of Jenne- jeno as a trading center.

- It's location on the Niger River. - It's location near two vegetations.

What is an artifact?

An item left by an earlier culture.

Fill in the blank: - City grows rich from trade ________________________________________ - A kingdom is formed.

City rulers conquer over cities.

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

Different resources were found in each zone.

Few large settlements developed in the Sahara because it was too...?

Dry.

What were the three Early Kingdoms of West Africa?

Ghana Mali Songhai

Which product of West Africa was most important in the trade across the Sahara?

Gold.

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

Ironsmelting.

How did the Niger River encourage trade?

It was a transportation route.

Compared to the West African savanna, does the Sahel have more or less rainfall?

Less.

In which African vegetation zone was Jenne-jeno located?

Savanna.

The principal barrier to trade between Jenne-jeno and cities on the north cost of Africa was the____?

The Sahara Desert.

In which vegetation zone in West Africa would you find yams, palm oil, and kola nuts?

The forest.

Archaeologist have found remains of high walls around one ancient West African community. What does this suggest about it?

The inhabitants faced the threat of attack.

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

They carried on long distance trade.

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

They had cities 2,000 years ago.

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

They joined other communities to form villages.

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

To farm.

Is getting protection from raiders an advantage of becoming part of an empire?

Yes.