23 Questions
What was the primary focus of the lesson on trans Saharan trade?
The impact of trade on the development of Africa
In early West African societies, the leaders of extended families were primarily:
Elders of the family
What is the key factor leading to the spread of Bantu and Bantu-related languages?
Migration of the Bantu people from Village to Village
What was a significant outcome of the transition from family-based communities to cities in West Africa?
Increased specialization of labor
What played a crucial role in the formation of West African kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai?
Ruling multiple cities and taxing goods
What was a key driver for the formation of cities in West Africa?
Advancements in iron working leading to efficient farming
What characterized the earliest societies in West Africa in terms of their ability to produce resources?
Ability to produce most of the things they needed
Which group of people played a significant role in spreading agricultural tools and techniques in West Africa?
Bantu people
What factor contributed to the increased wealth of West African kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai?
Taxing goods bought and sold within their areas
What factor contributed to the spread of Bantu and Bantu-related languages in West Africa?
The migration and gradual spread of the Bantu people
In early West African societies, what was the primary role of the leaders of extended families?
To ensure the production of resources within the community
What was a significant outcome of the transition from family-based communities to cities in West Africa?
Increased surplus of food and handmade goods
What role did iron working play in the development of West African cities?
It contributed to more efficient farming and specialization of labor
What characteristic differentiated the leaders of cities from the leaders of family-based communities in West Africa?
Wisdom was more important than age for city leadership
Which factor significantly influenced the formation of West African kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai?
The takeover and taxation of goods by ruling cities
What was the primary purpose of the lesson on trans Saharan trade?
To explore the impact of trade on Africa's development
What played a crucial role in the development of specialized labor in West African cities?
Advancements in iron working and agricultural tools
Why did traders from the North and Wangara engage in silent barter?
To exchange gold for salt and other goods without meeting face to face
What made salt valuable in the context of North and West African trade?
It preserves food
What was the significance of the introduction of camels from Asia in 300 C.E. to trade in North and West Africa?
It allowed caravan routes to be established in the desert
What facilitated the spread of Islam into West Africa, impacting trade in the region?
The arrival of merchants into West Africa
How did early West African societies obtain salt for trading?
By mining salt from holes in the salty ground
What role did fur play in facilitating trade between North and West Africa?
It protected traders from blowing sand in the desert
Study Notes
Early West African Societies
- Leaders of extended families were primarily responsible for overseeing daily activities and making important decisions.
- These leaders played a crucial role in the formation of West African kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
- They were responsible for organizing and assigning tasks, resolving disputes, and distributing resources.
Development of Cities
- A significant outcome of the transition from family-based communities to cities in West Africa was the development of specialized labor.
- Iron working played a crucial role in the development of West African cities.
- Cities were characterized by the presence of a strong, centralized authority, unlike family-based communities.
Bantu and Bantu-Related Languages
- The key factor leading to the spread of Bantu and Bantu-related languages was migration.
- The spread of Bantu and Bantu-related languages was also facilitated by the movement of people and the exchange of goods and ideas.
Trade and Economy
- The primary driver for the formation of cities in West Africa was trade and commerce.
- A key driver for the formation of West African kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai was the control of trade routes and resources.
- The increased wealth of West African kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai was due to their strategic locations along trade routes.
Agriculture and Resources
- The earliest societies in West Africa were characterized by their ability to produce resources through agriculture and herding.
- The Mande people played a significant role in spreading agricultural tools and techniques in West Africa.
Trans-Saharan Trade
- The primary purpose of the lesson on trans-Saharan trade was to understand the exchange of goods and ideas between North and West Africa.
- Camels, introduced from Asia in 300 C.E., facilitated the spread of goods across the Sahara Desert.
- The significance of salt in trade was due to its rarity and importance for food preservation.
- Salt was obtained through trade with the North or extracted from natural salt deposits.
- Fur played a significant role in facilitating trade between North and West Africa.
- Silent barter was practiced by traders from the North and Wangara due to language barriers.
- The spread of Islam facilitated trade in the region by establishing a common language and system of trade.
Explore the impact of trans-Saharan trade on the development of Africa, starting with the early societies in West Africa and their extended family structures. Delve into how trade routes and interactions influenced the cultural, economic, and social development of the region.
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