Question

1. what did the variety of languages in west africa mean for enslaved africans in the americas?

a) they could all easily communicate
b) they had difficulty understanding each other
c) they spoke only english
d) they had no culture

open - ended questions: answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. describe how trade contributed to the wealth of west african kingdoms before european contact.
2. what is animism, and how might it have influenced the way west africans interacted with their environment?
3. in what ways did african cultures survive and adapt in the americas despite the hardships of slavery?

Explanation:

The variety of languages in West Africa meant that enslaved Africans in the Americas, coming from different linguistic - groups, would have had difficulty understanding each other. Animism is the belief that inanimate objects, natural phenomena, and creatures possess a spiritual essence. Trade in West African kingdoms before European contact involved the exchange of valuable goods like gold, salt, and ivory. African cultures in the Americas survived and adapted through music, dance, religious practices, and family - based social structures.

Answer:

Multiple - choice:
b) They had difficulty understanding each other

Open - Ended:

1. Trade in West African kingdoms before European contact contributed to wealth through the exchange of valuable commodities such as gold, salt, and ivory. Long - distance trade networks allowed these kingdoms to access resources not available locally and to sell their own abundant resources, thus accumulating wealth.
2. Animism is the belief that objects, natural phenomena, and creatures have a spiritual essence. This belief likely influenced West Africans to respect and interact with their environment in a more harmonious way, as they saw spirits in nature and thus treated it with reverence.
3. African cultures survived and adapted in the Americas despite the hardships of slavery through music and dance, which were used to express cultural identity and to provide emotional release. Religious practices also persisted, often blending with Christian beliefs. Family - based social structures helped to preserve cultural values and traditions.