African Empires (Part 2)

What is one reason why we know little about life in ancient West Africa?

• The ruling classes did not write about their lives

• The civilizations did not have written languages

• The empires were not powerful or wealthy

• Historians did not visit the empire

How have historians been able to learn about life in ancient West Africa?

• Through written records

• Through oral history

• Through archaeological discoveries

• Through government documents

What is oral history?

• A written record of past events

• A spoken record of past events passed down through generations

• A record of events recorded on video

• A record of events recorded on audio

What are the three West African traditions that historians study?

• Village life, religion, and arts

• Trade, politics, and warfare

• Education, technology, and agriculture

• Language, literature, and music

What is the typical structure of a West African family?

• Nuclear family

• Extended family

• Single-parent family

• Blended family

What were the specific tasks of men in a West African family?

• Farming, collecting firewood, and caring for children

• Hunting, farming, and raising livestock

• Grounding grain, carrying water, and raising livestock

• Hunting, collecting firewood, and caring for children

What were the specific tasks of women in a West African family?

• Farming, collecting firewood, and caring for children

• Hunting, farming, and raising livestock

• Grounding grain, carrying water, and raising livestock

• Hunting, collecting firewood, and caring for children

What was a common belief about ancestors in West African society?

• They became gods after death

• They stayed nearby as spirits

• They were reincarnated into animals

• They had no influence on the living

What did West Africans do to honor their ancestors?

• Built statues in their honor

• Wrote poems about them

• Held annual festivals

• Created special rituals

What is animism?

• The belief in multiple gods

• The belief in one supreme being

• The belief in spirits in natural objects

• The belief in life after death