Which statement best describes how physical geography contributed to the decline of West African empires?

Question

• Landslides and flooding destroyed villages, causing the population to use violence to gain food.
• Hurricanes forced many to migrate east toward central Africa, which reduced the size of the armies.
• Periods of drought led to declines in food production and increased migration of people seeking better conditions.
• Salt was overmined, leading to shortages and protests by miners who demanded more gold for their work.

Answer 1

The statement that best describes how physical geography contributed to the decline of West African empires is:

• Periods of drought led to declines in food production and increased migration of people seeking better conditions.

This is because droughts affected the agricultural productivity of the region, leading to a scarcity of food and resources. This scarcity, combined with the increased migration of people, put a strain on the stability and resources of the empires, ultimately contributing to their decline. The other statements are not directly related to physical geography and its impact on the decline of West African empires.