African urban centers like Jenne, Gao, and Timbuktu were generally smaller in size compared to their European counterparts during the ninth and eleventh centuries. They were significant trade hubs but lacked the urban planning and infrastructure characteristic of European cities. Therefore, the best answer is B. smaller in size.
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African urban centers like Jenne, Gao, and Timbuktu developed as important trade hubs but were generally smaller in size compared to contemporary European urban centers. They had less infrastructure and planning, making them not truly urban in the European sense. Overall, the development of these cities illustrates the differences in urban growth across different cultures and regions during the ninth and eleventh centuries. ;