As african merchants traded with people in the middle east prior to the 1500s

What is one way in which africa's geographic features influenced its cultural   as african merchants traded with people in the middle east prior to the 1500s , 

Towns and small farms are usually for land, lakes, rivers, and seas.they also produce other food, like crops.it's also where animals are, where we get our meat.large plantations normally have forests, where crops are grown for sale. (similar to farms)plantations have larger fields of crops.our wine, sugar canes, and fruits come from plantations.