Chapter 5, Lesson 4: Village Society in West Africa

Chapter 5, Lesson 4: Village Society in West Africa (pp. 124-127)

I. Farming: A Way of Life

A. Most early West Africans lived in small farming villages.

B. Farmers developed crops and farming methods suitable to the climate and vegetation of their region.

C. Most farmers grew a small surplus of crops to trade for food they could not produce in their region.

II. Religion, Dance, and Music

A. African villagers believed in pleasing their gods with ritual, music, and dance.

B. African villagers believed in worshipping their ancestors. They believed that the spirit of their ancestors would influence the gods.

III.Village Government

A. Kinship, or family relationship, was the basis of village government.

B. The male heads of clans became village chiefs and religious leaders.

C. Slavery was a way of paying off debts between clans. Captives of war also became slaves.