The effects of the development of trans-Saharan trade networks on West African states can be better understood by considering the earlier development of cities and states in the region. Due to the difficulty of raising livestock and growing crops in the hot Sahara, the economy of West Africa lagged behind that of North Africa until the growth of trade. Likewise, while a sophisticated civilization developed in the Niger Valley after 300 BCE, growing trade cities at the time were not joined into a larger empire. The ongoing development of trans-Saharan trade, however, provided the resources for economic and political change in the region. Review the sample essay excerpt above. First, explain how to provide contextualization in an essay. Then, explain how this excerpt explains the context of the prompt. (15 points)

You provide contextualization in an essay in many ways.

Explanation:

You explain broader historical events, developments, or process immediately relevant to the prompt. You include the time, place, situation of the prompt and events/processes that directly led to the issue within the prompt. You give explanations of world historical events that connect the prompt/question to the global process. Lastly, the context has to be presented at the beginning of the essay and is multiple sentences, giving the reader a setting.

This excerpt explains the context of the prompt by providing information of historical events that occurred in the past of the location the prompt is talking about (West African States). The excerpt continues and gives information on how the trans-Saharan trade networks helped develop the West African states from their previous conditions. The excerpt provides time, place, and the situation of the prompt and gives explanations of other world historical events that connect to the prompt.

what are you asking here?