West Africa

What artifacts tell us about the African past?

Artifacts tell us about iron tools and weapons and the process and techniques of making them.

How did extended families provide help against dangerous floods and enemies?

Extended families protected and helped each other in a time of flood or invaders. Each family member would contribute.

What are the early kingdoms of West Africa?

Ghana,Mali and Songhai

Which product was the most important in trade across the Sahara?

Gold

What would high walls around a community suggest?

High walls were used for city status, to organize the comings and goings of trades and to protect the villagers from thieves.

What did Jenne- jeno show historians about West African history?

Historians original theory about West African history was that cities did not exist until outsiders helped locals build them. They later found evidence that that theory was incorrect. Jenne - jeno proved that.

What factors contributed to Jenne-jeno becoming a major trade center?

Jenne - jeno was located by the Niger River which brought easy transportation for traders. Jenne - jeno also had a surplus of many resources. They then has more time to create different products. These factors brought a busy trading center and city.

Why did people in different vegetation zones trade with each other?

People in different vegetation zones traded with each other because they were unable to produce the products that were needed or wanted. They would then trade for the things needed or wanted.

What is/ was the natural boundary between Jenne-Jeno and northern cities?

The Niger River

What was the relationship between the Niger River and trade?

The Niger River led to fast and easy transportation. You could then trade easily and get from place to place by a boat. this made the Niger River a popular trading route. The Niger River was like a trading highway.

Which group adopted iron-smelting?

The Nok were the first to adopt iron - smelting.

Why was the Sahara not developed?

The Sahara was not developed because there were not enough resources such as water, vegetation and farmland. The Sahara was also difficult to travel across.

What goods are produced in the different vegetation zones?

The Savanna:grain The Forest: mahogany and yams The River: fish,water and other seafood West Africa: iron and metals

What are the differences between the West African savanna and the Sahel?

The differences between the Savanna and the Sahel were the Savanna had/has lots of rain and some vegetation while the Sahel had/has little rain and little vegetation. the Savanna is more fit for life.

What are the advantages of becoming part of an empire?

The kings provided protection, armies and they made the trade routes safe. The armies also protected citizens from raiders and foreign armies.

What purpose was the land south of the Sahara used for?

The land south of the Sahara was used for farmland and trade.

How is a kingdom formed?

The rulers became wealthy from trade after they taxed the goods. They then raised large armies with their wealth to protect, defend and conquer. The rulers would conquer and then become even more wealthy.

Copper was found in Jenne- jeno. what does this tell the archeologists about the people who lived here?

This told archeologists that copper was traded and possibly a valuable metal at that time.

What vegetation zone was Jenne - jeno located in?

Tropical Grasslands