Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
Lesson at a Glance Outline

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. The 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. Chiefs bore many responsibilities, including deciding when to plant and harvest crops, leading the army, acting as judge, and fostering cooperation.

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