Africa: Traditional Patterns of Life
1. What holds society together? Family Loyalty African Proverb: “A person without relatives is as good as dead.”
2. Family of hunting and gathering societies? Groups of nuclear families
3. Families of farming and herding societies? Extended families Worked as an economic unit for survival Families may work together on large projects
4. What unites people beyond extended family? Why? Ties of kinship Sharing lineage created bonds of loyalty and responsibility
5. Define Lineage: a group of distant relatives who trace their descent to a common ancestor Clan: several lineages form a clan- shared duties and obligation toward one another
6. Where did most people live? Small villages Some villages linked together as a part of a larger government connected to empires Tribal not as part of an empire
Zulu Benin
7. Who made decisions that affected daily life? Village leaders Council of elders Village elders
Full public discussions 8. In many areas how were decisions for village and issues of justice decided? Full public discussions Goal was to reach a consensus (Common agreement) Community over individual
9. Define Subsistence Farming Subsistence Farming: produce enough for own needs with little or no surplus
10. What varied according to environment? Examples Methods of farming Examples: forest: slash and burn savanna: crop rotation
11. How did people view the land in farming societies? Communal property no ownership but family had the right to use their fair share
12. What determined wealth in herding societies? Number of cattle
Massai
13. Why were women seen as important in traditional society? Contributed to economic well being of family Worked the fields & took surplus to market
14. Describe the status of women. Varies- some high status & leaders Some women owned land and ruled the home Patriarchal: others had no power and were dominated by men
15. Define Polygamy Bride wealth practice of having more than one spouse Bride wealth gift to bride’s family to recognize importance/respect of women
Matrilineal Patrilineal 16. Explain the two types of traditions that govern inheritance & descent Matrilineal female lineage Patrilineal male lineage
17. What is the age-grade system? All boys and girls born in the same year Helps develop loyalty To learn values of society Rites of passage
18. What purpose does religion serve? As elsewhere helps unite a society Deals with origins, morality, right and wrong
19. Describe traditional African Beliefs/ Indigenous beliefs? original or local Oral traditions – griot – West African Story teller Somewhat Monotheistic- single supreme being that created the world with lesser gods and spirits for daily life Ancestor veneration: ancestors can help or hurt the living
Medicine & Magic (Spirits) African Religion Supreme Being Lesser Gods Ancestors Humans Medicine & Magic (Spirits)
20. Define Animism Belief that spirits live in the natural world
21. What is the purpose of a Diviner and Healer? To explain the cause of misfortune Link between people and the spirits Herbal medicines
22. What major religions exist in Africa? Islam Christianity Judaism Hinduism