Final answer:
The land in parts of Canaan was hilly and dry, making traditional farming difficult; thus, herding was a more suitable livelihood. The nomadic pastoralists roamed regions like the Sahel, Maghreb, and the Sahara to find grazing land for their herds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason why some people in parts of Canaan were herders rather than farmers is C. The land was hilly and dry. In these challenging terrains, traditional farming was difficult because the soil was not fertile and there was inadequate water for crops. Instead, these areas were more suitable for herding animals such as goats, sheep, camel, and cattle, which could graze on the sparse vegetation available and were more adaptable to the arid climate. Herding was a way of life that coexisted with nomadic or semi-nomadic patterns, moving animals to find suitable grazing land, and was affected by the seasons and available resources.
Herding activities were commonly practiced in the Sahel and Maghreb, as well as the Sahara Desert where nomadic pastoralists would roam to find sustenance for their herds, especially during the hot and dry seasons. The land in these regions could not be successfully farmed due to less fertile soil and insufficient rainfall. Contrastingly, the Fertile Crescent had more temperate and fertile conditions that fostered the development of agriculture.