The capital of Ghana was Kumbi Saleh. It had Muslim houses in the north east
of the city and in the south west of the city had the palace of the kings and
between the two there were mud huts that all of the locals lived in. The town
was about 10k long from one of the ends to the other.
Education and children
In rural areas there wasnt much education childeren learnt about good
manners, trade, healing, religion, and local government from their familys.
In more urban areas there where muslims who taught in mosques by an
Imam. Children in the Mali Empire spent most of their time
with their mums before they were 12. At 12 boys went
through a ceremony that made them a man. Most of them began
training in a craft with their uncles after this. A few went to learn in the city. Others
joined the military. Girls became adults at about the same age. Once a girl grew up
she was married of.Girls were usually married to a man
who their dad chose.
Peoples Rights
Men were allowed to have more than one wife in Ancient Ghana.
But because they had to support their wives and their
children they normally only had one. Muslim men were limited
to four wives. Men could easily divorce their wives for any reason.
Women had no right to choose their husband.
The emperor of Mali had a main wife. She was usually of noble birth.
Her name was announced along with the emperor's in ceremonies.
The emperor had a large harem which was a group of women who lived with him but
had lower status than his wives.
Family Life
In ancient Ghana people lived with all of their relatives in one big family including
grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousinswas. In Ghana, the people lived in
small farming villages made up of several large family groups.
The head of the family was called the fa He was in charge of the family's property
and ruled over relationships within the group. He also had religious responsibilities.
Farming
People were farming around the delta of the Niger River by at least 500 B.C.
Farmers planted rice in the rich soil left behind when floodwaters drained away
after the rainy season. As early as 1000 B.C., the people in Ancient Ghana had
become skilled farmers. They built small dams to collect water for crops. They
probably grew more than enough food for their communities and were able to trade
it for other goods.
Law and Order
Law was important in Ghana Because of trade in the empire, many laws
were to protect traders, travelers, and property. In Ghana, the emperor
played a masive role in the justice system. He would ride through the streets
every morning listening to complaints of citizens. He wouldn`t return to his
palace until the problems he heard about were solved.
In Ancient Africa theft was a serious crime people
cought were sentenced to death or slavery. Because of this society was
very orderly. Women could travel with great amounts of gold jewelry without
fear of being robbed.
Shelter
The wealthy, and more educated people in Ancient Ghana lived in clay and straw huts.
Arab traders built houses out of bricks or stone which where rectangular and even two
stories tall. The kings palace was mad eout of stoneand in a salt mining town in
Ancient Ghana people even built houses out of salt.
Clothing
The hot weather in West Africa meant that clothing wasn`t needed for warmth.
In the countryside people wore very little clothing or no clothing. In the courts
of Mali and Ghana, people might sometimes appear in public wearing no
clothing. Because nudity was against the laws of Islam, however, those
people who dealt with Muslim traders wore clothing out of respect for
the traders' beliefs. Arabs wore sewn clothing, but out of the African
people only the emperor and his heir were alowed to wear sewn clothes.
Normal peoplecould only wear pieces of cloth wrapped around them.
The emperor of Mali wore luxurious clothing imported from
Europe. Wealthy people from Walata wore imported Egyptian
clothing.
of the city and in the south west of the city had the palace of the kings and
between the two there were mud huts that all of the locals lived in. The town
was about 10k long from one of the ends to the other.
Education and children
In rural areas there wasnt much education childeren learnt about good
manners, trade, healing, religion, and local government from their familys.
In more urban areas there where muslims who taught in mosques by an
Imam. Children in the Mali Empire spent most of their time
with their mums before they were 12. At 12 boys went
through a ceremony that made them a man. Most of them began
training in a craft with their uncles after this. A few went to learn in the city. Others
joined the military. Girls became adults at about the same age. Once a girl grew up
she was married of.Girls were usually married to a man
who their dad chose.
Peoples Rights
Men were allowed to have more than one wife in Ancient Ghana.
But because they had to support their wives and their
children they normally only had one. Muslim men were limited
to four wives. Men could easily divorce their wives for any reason.
Women had no right to choose their husband.
The emperor of Mali had a main wife. She was usually of noble birth.
Her name was announced along with the emperor's in ceremonies.
The emperor had a large harem which was a group of women who lived with him but
had lower status than his wives.
Family Life
In ancient Ghana people lived with all of their relatives in one big family including
grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousinswas. In Ghana, the people lived in
small farming villages made up of several large family groups.
The head of the family was called the fa He was in charge of the family's property
and ruled over relationships within the group. He also had religious responsibilities.
Farming
People were farming around the delta of the Niger River by at least 500 B.C.
Farmers planted rice in the rich soil left behind when floodwaters drained away
after the rainy season. As early as 1000 B.C., the people in Ancient Ghana had
become skilled farmers. They built small dams to collect water for crops. They
probably grew more than enough food for their communities and were able to trade
it for other goods.
Law and Order
Law was important in Ghana Because of trade in the empire, many laws
were to protect traders, travelers, and property. In Ghana, the emperor
played a masive role in the justice system. He would ride through the streets
every morning listening to complaints of citizens. He wouldn`t return to his
palace until the problems he heard about were solved.
In Ancient Africa theft was a serious crime people
cought were sentenced to death or slavery. Because of this society was
very orderly. Women could travel with great amounts of gold jewelry without
fear of being robbed.
Shelter
The wealthy, and more educated people in Ancient Ghana lived in clay and straw huts.
Arab traders built houses out of bricks or stone which where rectangular and even two
stories tall. The kings palace was mad eout of stoneand in a salt mining town in
Ancient Ghana people even built houses out of salt.
Clothing
The hot weather in West Africa meant that clothing wasn`t needed for warmth.
In the countryside people wore very little clothing or no clothing. In the courts
of Mali and Ghana, people might sometimes appear in public wearing no
clothing. Because nudity was against the laws of Islam, however, those
people who dealt with Muslim traders wore clothing out of respect for
the traders' beliefs. Arabs wore sewn clothing, but out of the African
people only the emperor and his heir were alowed to wear sewn clothes.
Normal peoplecould only wear pieces of cloth wrapped around them.
The emperor of Mali wore luxurious clothing imported from
Europe. Wealthy people from Walata wore imported Egyptian
clothing.