06_Homesteads and villages Flashcards
(20 cards)
What change occurred when cattle farmers started planting crops?
They did not need to move around so often and could settle down in one place for longer periods of time.
What were the early African societies characterized by?
They became more permanent and settled in villages.
What is the role of a chief in early African societies?
The chief ruled over a collection of villages.
Who lived together in a homestead?
Families.
Who was the head of the homestead?
The senior male.
What family members lived with the head of the homestead?
His wife, unmarried children, and sometimes poor relatives.
How many wives could the head of the homestead have?
More than one wife.
What defined a lineage in early African societies?
Groups of related families that were related through a common ancestor.
Who were the most respected senior men of a lineage?
Elders.
What is a clan?
A group formed by a number of lineages sharing a clan name and believing they came from the same ancestors.
To which clan do the children of a homestead belong?
The clan of the homestead head.
What role did members of the same clan play in each other’s lives?
They helped each other in times of need.
What formed a village in early African societies?
A collection of homesteads.
What was the purpose of homestead heads meeting in villages?
To discuss matters that affected the wider community or neighborhood.
What did the elders control in relation to the lineage?
The cattle belonging to the lineage.
What did a young man need to do to marry?
Ask the elders for cattle to give as bride wealth.
What did the elders of both lineages do regarding bride wealth?
They agreed on the amount of cattle.
What was the chief’s role in relation to homesteads?
The chief controlled the group of homesteads.
Fill in the blank: A clan was formed by a number of _______.
lineages.
True or False: The head of the homestead has control over all families in a village.
False.
