Which statement best describes how physical geography contributed to the decline of West African empires? (1 point)
A)Periods of drought led to declines in food production and increased migration of people seeking better conditions.
B)Hurricanes forced many to migrate east toward central Africa, which reduced the size of the armies.
C)Landslides and flooding destroyed villages, causing the population to use violence to gain food.
D)Salt was overmined, leading to shortages and protests by miners who demanded more gold for their work.
A) Periods of drought led to declines in food production and increased migration of people seeking better conditions.
The statement that best describes how physical geography contributed to the decline of West African empires is A) Periods of drought led to declines in food production and increased migration of people seeking better conditions.
To determine the best answer, let's break down the options and see which one aligns with how physical geography contributed to the decline of West African empires:
A) Periods of drought led to declines in food production and increased migration of people seeking better conditions.
This option suggests that droughts caused a decrease in food production, which led to people migrating to find better living conditions. This migration could have resulted in a decline in the population of the empires and their ability to sustain themselves.
B) Hurricanes forced many to migrate east toward central Africa, which reduced the size of the armies.
This option implies that hurricanes forced people to migrate eastward, away from the West African empires. As a result, the size of the armies declined. While hurricanes could have had an impact on West Africa, it is less likely that they directly caused the decline of the empires.
C) Landslides and flooding destroyed villages, causing the population to use violence to gain food.
This option suggests that landslides and flooding destroyed villages, leading to a scarcity of food. As a result, the population resorted to violence to obtain food. While natural disasters can cause destruction, it is less likely that they directly led to the decline of the empires.
D) Salt was overmined, leading to shortages and protests by miners who demanded more gold for their work.
This option proposes that the overmining of salt resulted in shortages, which led to protests by miners who demanded more gold for their work. While the mining of salt was an important economic activity in West Africa, it is less likely to be the primary factor contributing to the decline of the empires as a whole.
Based on the analysis, option A is the best choice. Periods of drought can have a significant impact on food production, leading to the migration of people seeking better conditions. This could contribute to the overall decline of West African empires.