Question

Why did the kingdoms of West Africa arise where they did?
They were surrounded by gold mines.
They controlled the trade routes between the north and the south.
They were surrounded by salt mines.
They needed fertile farming lands.

Answer 1

They controlled the trade routes between the north and the south.

Explanation: West African kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai arose at strategic points on the trans‑Saharan trade routes. Controlling and taxing the flow of gold, salt, and other goods between North Africa and the forested south brought the wealth and political power needed to build centralized states.