HISTORY OF THE ASANTE PEOPLE

HISTORY OF THE ASANTE KINGDOM

LEARNING OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate understanding of the history of the Asante kingdom

Open Ended

Mention ONE aspect of the history of the Asante kingdom and name ONE important item about it.

eg. Food- fufu

Introduction to the Asante Kingdom:

-Africa’s early history is not found as much in written history as it is in artefacts, culture, and the traditions of the people.

-Kumasi is now home to 1.5 million people.

-Kumasi used to be the centre of power in Ghana, now it is the centre of culture, and once again the centre of the Asante kingdom.

Multiple Choice

What is the capital town of the Ashanti region?

• Koforidua

• Kumasi

• Kofikrom

• Cape Coast

Geographical Features of Ashanti region:

-Dense forest

-Heat & humidity

-Human-environmental interaction resulted in the reduction of the forest to create land for farming and space for living. 

-The natural resources of the Kumasi region were essential to the growth of the Asante kingdom: most importantly gold, but also timber and others.

Multiple Choice

Which natural resource in the Ashanti region is linked to the growth of the kingdom?

• Silver

• bauxite

• gold

• iron

Oral History of the Kingdom:

-The exact beginnings of the Asante kingdom are unknown - physical evidence has not revealed itself

-Oral history plays a huge role in the history of the Asante kingdom - most of what we know is based on oral history.

-According to oral legend, there were originally 7 clans that emerged from holes in the ground in the Asante forest.

Origins of the Kingdom- The Akans

-Before the Asante existed, the Akan peoples lived in the forests of the Kumasi region.

-In order to build a society, the Akan peoples had to clear the forest to develop agriculture.

-The Akan had to use slaves to do the intense manual labour that was required. 

-They mined and used gold to trade for slaves, resources and power. 

Origins of the Kingdom - The Akans

-Certain Akan ‘big men’ began to build up more power and wealth in some areas. Their power was represented by stools which represented their strength, authority and achievements. The stool would continue to be an important part of Asante history. 

-As the Akan peoples developed, they grouped together into small states. Denkyira was the most powerful of these states.

The Asante People:

-Denkyira placed many demands on surrounding peoples. In 1701 an alliance of other Akan states defeated the Denkyira in battle. The leader of these states was Osei-Tutu - he would become the very first Asante King (Asantehene).

-Osei-Tutu was considered a strong messiah figure who led and united the Asante people.

The Asante People:

-Osei-Tutu’s advisor was Okomfo-Anokye, who summoned the ‘Golden Stool’ from the heavens.

-The ‘Golden Stool’ represents the spirit of the Asante people. Its summoning by Okomfo-Anokye is considered one of the most important moments in Asante history.

-The belief in the supernatural origins of the golden stool gave its owner authority and the Asante people a strong sense of belonging to the kingdom.

Multiple Choice

Who was the first king of the Asantes (Asantehene) ?

• Osei Tutu

• Opoku Ware

• Okomfo Anokye

• Prempeh

Multiple Choice

Who is believed to have summoned the 'Golden Stool' from the heavens?

• Okomfo Kwakye

• Okomfo Kwadee

• Okomfo Awokye

• Okomfo Anokye

Growth of the Asante Kingdom:

-Osei-Tutu used the golden stool and European firearms, to expand and grow their kingdom.

-Every village was expected to contribute soldiers to the army of the Asante kingdom. All had to follow the will of the Asante king.

-Asante forcibly conquered neighbouring states, or states submitted to Asante power. It grew rapidly to encompass most of modern-day Ghana

Growth of the Asante Kingdom:

-As the Asante Kingdom grew, it continued to build up even more power and wealth in the form of captured gold and slaves.

-Most slaves taken by the Europeans were sold by the Asante. The Asante sold slaves to increase their wealth and power, which allowed them to conquer more land and capture more slaves - the cycle continued.

Open Ended

In your opinion, what ONE thing led to the rise/growth of the Asante kingdom?

The Defeat of the Asante:

-The abolishment of the British slave trade in 1807 meant the Asante could not trade captured slaves for more resources, meaning they lost this source of wealth and power.

-People began to move from Kumasi to trade with others directly. They might bury or hide their gold/resources to avoid taxation by the Asante government.

-The British began as trading partners to the Asante, but they also settled in Southern Ghana and began to expand their power. 

The Defeat of the Asante:

-The British and Asante would collide in conflict and war. The British burned Kumasi to the ground in 1874 and continued to expand their control over the Asante Kingdom.

-When the British challenged the Asante, so did their other provinces, and the power and control of the Asante continued to decrease.

-The new Asantehene Prempeh was exiled in 1896, thus symbolizing the final defeat of the Asante by Britain until independence was achieved. 

Multiple Select

Which of the following are Asante kings who form part of the history of the Asante kingdom?

• Agokoli

• Osei Tutu

• Okomfo Anokye

• Prempeh