Which factor contributed to the rise of African empires such as Ghana and Mali?

(1 point)
Responses

Their creation and involvement in trade networks.

Their creation and involvement in trade networks.

They focused only on agricultural production.

They focused only on agricultural production.

They didn't engage in warfare with other nations.

They didn't engage in warfare with other nations.

Their geographic location protected them from attacks.

Their creation and involvement in trade networks.

The factor that contributed to the rise of African empires such as Ghana and Mali was their creation and involvement in trade networks.

The correct answer is "Their creation and involvement in trade networks." African empires such as Ghana and Mali emerged as major powers in part due to their engagement in trade networks. Here's how you can arrive at this answer:

1. Read and understand the question: The question asks about the factor that contributed to the rise of African empires like Ghana and Mali.

2. Analyze each response option:

- "Their creation and involvement in trade networks": This response emphasizes the role of trade networks in the rise of these empires. Trade allowed these empires to gain wealth, power, and influence.
- "They focused only on agricultural production": This response suggests that focusing solely on agriculture contributed to their rise. However, it is generally recognized that trade played a more significant role.
- "They didn't engage in warfare with other nations": While minimizing conflicts may have been beneficial, it wasn't the primary factor in the rise of these empires.
- "Their geographic location protected them from attacks": Although geography may have provided some protection, it alone cannot fully explain the rise of these empires.

3. Eliminate incorrect options: Based on the analysis, we can determine that the options focusing on agriculture, lack of warfare, and geographic location do not fully explain the rise of Ghana and Mali.

4. Select the correct option: The option left after eliminating the incorrect ones is "Their creation and involvement in trade networks." This aligns with historical evidence that trade played a crucial role in the rise and prosperity of African empires such as Ghana and Mali.

Therefore, the factor that contributed to the rise of African empires like Ghana and Mali was their creation and involvement in trade networks.