West African Societies
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Earlier this year, we learned about Western African Societies. This civilization was very religious and was known for their trade. In this paper I will talk about what we learned and what these societies accomplished.
Early West African Societies were family based communities. Some of these communities came together to form villages. Banding together in villages allowed people to take advantage of natural resources, farm crops, and defending themselves from invading tribes. Ironworking and trade helped some villages grow into large towns and cities. Iron tools used for farming allowed farmers to grow more food. As a result, more people could take part in other works. Villages traded their surplus goods for items they could not make themselves. Some villages became important trading sites and grew into cities. Others became large communities near important resources, such as iron or gold. Trade brought some cities great wealth. The rulers of the wealthiest cities conquered neighboring areas, leading to the rise of kingdoms and empires. Rulers gained even more wealth through tribute, as well as by controlling trade. Ghana was in a perfect location to control the trans Saharan trade. It used the wealth from trade to create a strong army, which allowed it to conquer other villages and build a strong empire. Ghana became wealthy by charging taxes on goods, especially gold and salt. Gold was mined in secret locations in forests south of Ghana and carried north to trade, and salt was produced in the Sahara and transported south. When trade caravans entered Ghana, they brought their goods into the capital city of Kumbi. From there, they headed to the southern forests to trade with the Wangarans. The Wangarans were the people of the village Wangara which was known for its gold. The Wangarans used a system of silent barter to trade goods. Years of war and the loss of natural resources led to Ghana’s fall in the 13th century. The next great West African empire, Mali, also built its wealth on trade. Traders first brought Islam to Ghana in the 8th century. The influence of Islam soon grew under the rulers of Mali and Songhai. Islam changed West African religion. Many continued to show respect for the spirits of ancestors and to follow other traditions and beliefs, but they learned to follow the Five Pillars of Islam and to celebrate Muslim religious festivals. Islam brought new ideas about government and law. Shari’ah replaced customary law. There was a new emphasis on learning. People studied at Qur’anic schools and Islamic universities. Timbuktu became a center of Islamic and academic study. Arabic became the language of religion, learning, and government. A new style of architecture developed as West Africans built mosques, or Islamic temples, and changed the designs of their homes. They also adopted new, geometric styles in their art. Today, Western Africa still influences us with their many good ideas and accomplishments such as music, art, and written traditions.
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