2. Much of what we know about Ancient African
society comes from the writings of foreign
visitors.
African towns began as fortified villages,
which grew into larger communities that
served several purposes
Towns were center of government
Towns had markets with goods from trade
Towns had artists who made pottery, tools,
woodwork, and other crafts
Farmers could trade their crops for goods
3. Inmost African societies, the ruler would
hold audiences with commoners
The king was held in a position high above
other people in the kingdom
The relationship of the king to his subjects
was beneficial to both sides
Merchants received favors from the king, while
the king received taxes
The king maintained law and order, which
allowed the merchants to practice their trade
4. People who lived in villages generally lived with
extended family and/or lineage groups
The extended family was made up of
parents/grandparents/children and other family
members
Lineage groups were the extended family that may
live in separate homes in the same village, and were
all related
Lineage groups were the basic building block of African
society
Members of the same lineage group could claim
relation to a common ancestor
Leading members of the group had power over the
others
The lineage group provided support for its members,
taking care of one another
5. Women were usually subordinate to men in
Africa, as they were in most early societies
around the world
Women often worked in the fields while men hunted
or took care of the cattle
One critical difference between African women
and women from other areas of the world was
that lineage was based on the mother; African
society was matrilineal, based on the mother.
(Most other societies were patrilineal – based on
the father.
Women were permitted to inherit property and
often a new husband would move into his wife’s
house
6. In the Congo, children were raised by their
mothers and were prepared to become part of
the community
They learned language, family history, and music from
their mothers
At age 6, the sexes were separated and the
fathers began to take an active role in educating
their sons
Boys learned to hunt and fish
Girls learned to work in the villages and fields
As they aged, children were given increasing
responsibilities until they fully entered the
community, usually at puberty.
Their transition was marked by ceremonies and/or
rituals
7. Slavery was practiced in Africa even in ancient
times
Berber groups in North Africa raided farming villages
south of the Sahara for captives
The captives were taken northward and sold throughout
the Mediterranean as domestic slaves or soldiers
Slavery was common in south and East Africa.
Slaves were captives, conquered peoples, debtors,
and criminals
Life was difficult for most slaves, who often
worked long, hard hours
In Muslim societies and Asia, some slaves could
earn their freedom
8. Early African religions varied from place to
place, although most shared some common
ideas
The Yoruba people of Nigeria believed that their chief
god sent his son Oduduwa from Heaven to create the
first humans
The Ashanti people of Ghana believed in a supreme
being called Nyame, whose sons were lesser gods.
Each son served a different purpose, like making rain
or sunshine.
Most African religions had rituals and ceremonies
One way to communicate with the gods was through
diviners, or people who believe they have the power
to foretell events by communicating with
supernatural forces
9. A key element in African religions was the
importance of ancestors
Each lineage group could trace itself back to a
founding ancestor or group of ancestors
Ritual ceremonies were dedicated to ancestors
Many African religions shared a belief in the
afterlife
They believed life existed in two stages: earth
and the afterlife, where the soul floated for
eternity
10. African religious beliefs were challenged by
Islam, but not always replaced
Islam swept rapidly across the northern coast
after the Arab conquest
Islam was spread as a result of trade
throughout Africa
The first ruling family to convert to Islam were
the Gao’s
Islam spread even more slowly in East Africa
Christianity dominated much of the region
Was more successful when Swahili culture
emerged
11. Earliest forms of African art were rock
paintings, dating back as far as 4000 BCE
Wood carving existed throughout Africa.
Carvers made elaborate masks and
statues
Clay and metal figurines were found in
Nigeria that demonstrated a flourishing
culture
Metalworkers produced bronze and iron
statues
African music and dance was extensive
and often served a religious purpose
Griots were storytellers who kept African
traditions and history as part of their
stories