Final answer:
The Empire of Western Sudan refers to major historical empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, with the Songhai Empire emerging from the territories controlled by Mali and earlier by Ghana.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Empire of Western Sudan is historically associated with three major empires that emerged in the region, which included the Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire, and the Songhai Empire. These empires flourished in succession, with each empire inheriting territories and influence from its predecessor. Initially, the Ghana Empire, existing from the sixth to the thirteenth centuries, laid the foundation for regional hegemony, accumulating wealth through the gold and salt trade. Later, the Mali Empire rose to prominence, known for its expansion of trade and influence from the 13th to the 16th century. Subsequently, the Songhai Empire, which incorporated areas previously under the control of both Ghana and Mali, became one of the largest empires in African history, extending its reach further east and north.
The empire of western Sudan is therefore a combination of primarily the Ghana and Mali empires with the substantial addition of the Songhai Empire later on. Therefore, the correct answer to the question would be a combination of (2) Songhai and Mali, as Mali inherited and built upon the foundations laid by Ghana before the emergence of Songhai.