WEST AFRICA Chapter 5.2 7.4.2 Early Culture and Trade The Big Idea Family ties, religion, iron...

WEST AFRICAWEST AFRICA

Chapter 5.2Chapter 5.2

7.4.2

Early Culture and Early Culture and TradeTrade

The Big IdeaThe Big Idea

Family ties, religion, iron technology, and trade Family ties, religion, iron technology, and trade all contributed to the growth of West African all contributed to the growth of West African

societies.societies.

Early Culture and TradeEarly Culture and Trade

• Main Idea 1:Main Idea 1:– Family and religion influenced daily life in Family and religion influenced daily life in

early West African society.early West African society.

• A typical West African family was an A typical West African family was an extended extended familyfamily, which included the father, mother, , which included the father, mother, children and close relatives in one household – children and close relatives in one household – including aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.including aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.

Family in West AfricaFamily in West Africa

• Some people took part in Some people took part in another type of group, another type of group, called called age setsage sets..

– In these groups, people who In these groups, people who had been born within the had been born within the same two or three years same two or three years formed special bonds where formed special bonds where they felt a loyalty to help they felt a loyalty to help each other out.each other out.


West African boys like these knew they couldlean on each other for help as they got older


• Loyalty to families and age-sets helped the Loyalty to families and age-sets helped the people of a village work together because people of a village work together because everyone had specific duties.everyone had specific duties.


• Men hunted, farmed and fished.Men hunted, farmed and fished.

Many West African’s relied on the fish of the Niger River to provide food.

Fishing on the Niger River was often done in canoe like boats as you see here. The people of West Africa still rely on the fish of West Africa even today.

Some fishermen still use the same techniques from hundreds of years ago.


• Women farmed and cared Women farmed and cared for the children. for the children.


• Elders taught Elders taught traditionstraditions to the children. to the children.• Children started working as soon as they were Children started working as soon as they were

able.able.

Religion in West AfricaReligion in West Africa

• Many West Africans believed that unseen Many West Africans believed that unseen spiritsspirits of their ancestors stayed nearby and of their ancestors stayed nearby and could influence their world.could influence their world.

• They shared their problems and news with the They shared their problems and news with the spirits and even offered them food. spirits and even offered them food.

Religion in West AfricaReligion in West Africa

• West Africans also believed that bodies of West Africans also believed that bodies of water, animals, trees and other natural water, animals, trees and other natural objects have spirits. objects have spirits. – This belief is known as This belief is known as animism.animism.

Iron TechnologyIron Technology

• Main Idea 2:Main Idea 2:– IronIron technology changed life in West Africa. technology changed life in West Africa.

• Changes in Changes in technologytechnology helped some helped some early communities grow.early communities grow.

• The people of Nok began using The people of Nok began using ironiron to to make farm tools and weapons.make farm tools and weapons.


• Because of this iron technology…Because of this iron technology…

– Farmers could work the land faster and grow more food.Farmers could work the land faster and grow more food.

– Warriors gained power with better weapons.Warriors gained power with better weapons.

– People could live in places they hadn’t been able to People could live in places they hadn’t been able to before.before.


West African TradeWest African Trade

• Main Idea 3:Main Idea 3:– TradeTrade shaped the history of West Africa. shaped the history of West Africa.

• West Africans began to trade the area’s West Africans began to trade the area’s resources with buyers who lived thousands of resources with buyers who lived thousands of miles away. They traded gold, salt, cloth, miles away. They traded gold, salt, cloth, copper, silver, and other items.copper, silver, and other items.


• Camels Camels were used to transport goods over long were used to transport goods over long distances because they could store water and distances because they could store water and carry heavy loads.carry heavy loads.


Salt Production

People in West Africa knew two ways of making salt.

Letters A-B explain how coastal people produced salt by the Evaporation Process.

Letters C-D explain how desert dwellers produced salt by the Mining process.

9. Which statement is true 9. Which statement is true about West African society?about West African society?

B. Family relationships were not important.

C. Family loyalty and age sets helped Africans work together.

D. Africans didn’t have to work until they got married.

A. Aunts and uncles are not considered part of the extended families.

11. Iron changed life in West Africa 11. Iron changed life in West Africa because of its impact on _____.because of its impact on _____.

B. trade and religion.

C. family life and farming.

D. farming and fighting.

A. farming and religion.

12. Which option below had the biggest impact on trade in West

Africa?

B. Iron technology

C. Extended families

A. Camels

WEST AFRICA Chapter 5.2 7.4.2 Early Culture and Trade The Big Idea Family ties, religion, iron...

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