Early Africa 7.16 Analyze the importance of family, labor specialization, and regional commerce in the development of states and cities in West Africa. 7.15 Examine the importance of written and oral traditions in the transmission of African history and culture.

Bellwork How important is your family in terms of who you are?

Family life Loyalty for family ran deep in Africa Family was so important that early Africans worshipped ancestors Your entire family lived in one house Called an extended family I plan on talking about who all lives in an extended family; grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, and cousins

Quick Questions How would you feel if your entire family lived in your house? Out of your family, who do you have the strongest bond with? Why? On the strongest bond question I am going to talk about how most bonds are formed with those that are of similar age and gender (called age-sects)

Daily Duties Men hunted and farmed Women farmed, collected firewood, ground grain, carried water and cared for children Elderly taught family traditions and values Children worked as soon as they were able

Elderly Duties Story telling was very important in African life Most stories were told orally and passed down from generation to generation Folktales were the main stories told Stories that are told orally They may try to explain something During this slide I will have them name folktales from America that they know (Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan, etc.) I will then read to them the folktale about thunder and lightning. I will then volunteer a student to retell the story. Students will be given a copy and told to underline details that the student retelling missed. We will then go to the next slide

Quick Question What are some problems with telling stories orally? Last slide for day one.

Bellwork What is a technology that has come around in your lifetime that has changed the way the world works?

A Big Change!!! Around 500BC a group called the Nok discovered something: Metal This allowed the beginning of empires Metal advantages will be discussed on next slide. I will just tell them that the Nok disappeared suddenly and no one knows why.

Quick Question Name some things that might be easier to do with metal as compared to stone? Will talk about how better farming led to more food which made people healthier. Will talk about more powerful fighting. Trees being cut down for better housing, stuff like that.

From This

To This

Trade As the population grew so did the need to trade Problem: What landform would prevent trading in Africa? Sahara Desert Why do they think population grew? Answer: metal

Trade The change came with the Romans Camels Now Africans could travel across the desert Still dangerous though Will talk about how before Romans they had to use horses which could only go short distances. Took two months to cross the desert on average It was dangerous because you could get lost, Sahara is bigger than Australia, thieves could steal your supplies, and finally you could have just not packed enough supplies.

What did they Trade The big three!!! Gold Salt Slaves

Modern Salt Mine

Quick Question Why do you think salt was so valuable? Food preservative

Timbuktu Grew into a major trade center Became the center of culture and learning for West Africa Would give rise to a major African empire Gave rise to the Mali and Ghana empires. Edge of the Saharan desert

For the assessment part you can have students do a cause and effect sheet that I am going to make.