World History: Africa Study Guide
Lineage was the chief means of social and political organization in African stateless
societies.
Africans mainly provided gold and salt in the trade between East Africa and West
Africa.
The Swahili language developed from a mixture of Arabic and Bantu languages.
The Age-Set System (your role or responsibility at a given age) emphasized the
duties and roles associated with varying ages.
The region known as the Maghrib is located along the Mediterranean Sea.
The rulers of Ghana grew rich by taxing the goods traders carried through their
territory.
Sundiata was Mali’s first great leader.
The Songhai people broke away from Mali’s empire and gained control of the
all-important trade routes.
Ghana grew rich by taxing the gold and salt trade
Archaeologists believe that the Great Enclosure (a wall around the city built for
protection) of Great Zimbabwe was mainly intended to defend or protect the city.
Mali was ruled by Sundiata and Mansa Musa.
In the matrilineal society, children trace their ancestors through the mothers
As gold deposits were found further east, African trade routes shift to the east
several time. The trade routes moved because they found gold in other places.
What purposes do lineage groups and age-set systems serve in stateless societies?
Think about things like; organization, inheritance rights and leadership
 What is a stateless society?
 A stateless society is a society with no centralized or organized government.
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What is the purpose of lineage in a stateless society?
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What is an age-set system? How does it help a stateless society?
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Lineage is your family line or history. Because there is no government,
lineage (family history) is how society is organized. It is used to help divide,
group, organize a stateless society to give it meaning.
An age-set system which divided you by your age group and helps define your
responsibilities at different ages.
The age set system is what teaches the people in society what they have to do
at different points or ages in their lives