Final answer:
Savannas and monsoon climates were pivotal in the evolution of African societies, as the former provided rich conditions for agriculture and herding, while the latter influenced vegetation through distinct wet and dry seasons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most important climatic feature in the evolution of African societies has been the savannas. As well-watered regions, savannas supported settled human communities through their abundant rainfall, diverse wildlife, and grasslands, which allowed for both agriculture and herding. They are home to large grazing mammals vital for the sustenance of these societies. Additionally, the development of monsoon climates, with their characteristic wet and dry seasons, may have been equally influential by shaping the fire-prone environments of Africa's savannas. This alternation of wet and dry periods facilitated the growth of C4 grasses, which thrived under low atmospheric CO₂ levels, and a recurrent fire regime which enabled grasslands to expand over woody vegetation.