Whap Ch 19-21 Study Questions
Chapter 19 Study Questions
1. The function of the griot in sub-Saharan African Culture was to transfer cultures through oral communication. They were often professional singers and storytellers that told oral traditions including stories, histories, epics, and other accounts. The story of Sundiata was told by the griots. 2. The introduction to bananas encouraged a fresh migratory surge. The cultivations of bananas increased the food supplies available and allowed the Bantus to expand more rapidly. The arrival of camel quickened the pace of communication and transportation across the Sahara. Camels could travel long distance without having to drink water and thus made them useful beasts of burden in an arid region. 3. Kin-based societies are governments throughout the Bantu people through family and kinship groups. Male heads of families constituted a ruling council, which decided public affairs. The best of the family heads became chiefs. These societies focused on ethnic loyalty and negotiated with only two or more villages. 4. Both Kingdom of Kongo and Kingdom of Ghana were states. The government of Kongo consisted of a king and officials who oversaw affairs and beneath the king and officials were six provinces administered by governors. Chiefs governed the local villages. They were famous for their tight centralized government. The kingdom of Ghana was famous for their trade in gold. Thus they became the most important commercial site in West Africa and became the wealthiest kingdom in Africa. 5. Islam first entered into sub-Saharan Africa due to the kings of Ghana converting to Islam. This improved relations with Muslim merchants from north Africa as well as Muslim nomads. Unlike the north Africa and southwest Africa imposing Islam forcibly on their society, the kings of Ghana let the people observe traditional religious customs. However, the faith attracted many converts, mostly people that had relations with the Muslim merchants. 6. The
1. The function of the griot in sub-Saharan African Culture was to transfer cultures through oral communication. They were often professional singers and storytellers that told oral traditions including stories, histories, epics, and other accounts. The story of Sundiata was told by the griots. 2. The introduction to bananas encouraged a fresh migratory surge. The cultivations of bananas increased the food supplies available and allowed the Bantus to expand more rapidly. The arrival of camel quickened the pace of communication and transportation across the Sahara. Camels could travel long distance without having to drink water and thus made them useful beasts of burden in an arid region. 3. Kin-based societies are governments throughout the Bantu people through family and kinship groups. Male heads of families constituted a ruling council, which decided public affairs. The best of the family heads became chiefs. These societies focused on ethnic loyalty and negotiated with only two or more villages. 4. Both Kingdom of Kongo and Kingdom of Ghana were states. The government of Kongo consisted of a king and officials who oversaw affairs and beneath the king and officials were six provinces administered by governors. Chiefs governed the local villages. They were famous for their tight centralized government. The kingdom of Ghana was famous for their trade in gold. Thus they became the most important commercial site in West Africa and became the wealthiest kingdom in Africa. 5. Islam first entered into sub-Saharan Africa due to the kings of Ghana converting to Islam. This improved relations with Muslim merchants from north Africa as well as Muslim nomads. Unlike the north Africa and southwest Africa imposing Islam forcibly on their society, the kings of Ghana let the people observe traditional religious customs. However, the faith attracted many converts, mostly people that had relations with the Muslim merchants. 6. The