What did most west Africans do in the 1500s?

Answer 1

In the 1500s, most West Africans engaged in agriculture, cultivating crops such as millet, sorghum, and rice, which were staples of their diets. Many communities also participated in trade, exchanging goods like gold, ivory, and textiles with North African and European merchants. Additionally, some societies, particularly in coastal regions, began to engage in the transatlantic slave trade, which would have profound effects on the region's Demographics and economy. Social structures were often organized around kinship and communal ties, with various kingdoms and empires, such as the Songhai Empire, playing significant roles in regional politics.