NaimExplain

What does the following quotation from the chaplain at the Portuguese embassy in Ethiopia reveal about the power of the Ethiopian state? "The people speak the truth little, even when they make oath, unless they swear by the head of the King. They are very afraid of excommunication, and if they are ordered to do something that is to their disadvantage they do it from fear of excommunication." Answer:Although, the Ethiopian state leaders were often times distant from their people, the state still had a great deal of authority because of the ability to suspend members from the Church. Being a member of the Ethiopian church was vital for most people's lives and the possible threat of being suspended from the community was enough to give the state a considerable amount of power. The Ethiopian state clearly had a great deal of power and great diplomatic relations.

How was power more centralized in the administration of Songhay than in that of Mali? Answer:In Songhay, as new provinces were conquered for the empire, traditional rulers were replaced by royal appointees. They were usually members of the royal family or trusted servants. Their positions were not hereditary and these provincial governers were directly dependent upon the king for their appointment. Each governor recruited his own local army which was used for ensuring the regular payment tribute by the farms of the province. The removal of traditional rulers and the centralisation of power helped prevent provinces from breaking away during periods of dynastic dispute or rule by weak kings, and this strengthened the Songhay administration.

Why did village clans group together to form larger chiefdoms? Answer:Village clans in ancient Ghana grouped together to form larger chiefdoms in response to the Sahara growing increasingly drier and hotter. This limited the amount of good farming land, so it was likely that these iron-smart clans would work together to secure the best farming lands for themselves. They would also work join into clans to protect themselves from the traveling nomads' raids of the Sahara.

If there were agricultural surpluses in Ancient Egypt, where were they stored? What were they used for and by whom? Answer:When the people of Egypt produced an agricultural surplus, it was collected as tax and stored in huge government storehouses or vaults. They were mainly used to fund and feed the lives of the wealthy ruling class, especially the pharaoh and his family. They were also somewhat used for trading with other cultures such as the Nubians, Semites, and the Greeks.

What role did the pharaoh play? Where did the authority of the pharaohs come from? Answer:The pharaoh ruled as a divine king with absolute power. Much of his authority came from the divine lineage that he claimed: the Pharaoh functioned as an earthly incarnation of Egyptian deities. The notion of a pharaoh came from the 'inner Africa' of the south. It was believed that the gods of the Egyptian land controlled the crops and the seasons. As agricultural people, the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt depended on a good harvest for their existence and livelihoods. Pharaohs were initially religious leaders largely in charge of praying to the gods of the land for a good harvest and even claimed to be 'rain keepers'. Over time, these priests and religious figures slowly began to take the form of actual deities descended to Earth. Due to the favorable agricultural conditions provided by Nile, the pharaoh could legitimately enforce his authority. The regular delivery of good ha...

Compare and contrast the political organization of Meroë and Ancient Egypt. What are some differences? Are there similarities? Answer:Meroe was not founded on the floodplain agricultural system that the Egyptians used. And because they were not confined to the narrow fields of the Nile valley the people were much more spread out across the area which made it more difficult to administer direct authority. Additionally, the taxation system used in Meroe was not as strict and predetermined like the Egyptians were. And even though both states had a king, the Meroitic king did not have an automatic line of succession and was subject to approval by the nobility and the priesthood, who could dispose of him if they wished.

Briefly describe the interactions and transactions between the Egyptian peasant and the government. How was the day-to-day business of the government carried out? What public goods did the government establish? Answer:Egyptian peasants interacted with the government at the bureaucratic level. Tax collectors would collect food surplus and often scribes would supervise the construction of buildings. They also came into contact with governors and priests. The day-to-day business of the government was delegated to local governors, tax collectors, scribes, priests, and others. They handled government business in the name of the Pharaoh. Some of the public goods provided by the government was extensive irrigation systems and temples (praying to the gods ensured a good life and harvest).

Why were Darwin's ideas controversial in 19th century Europe? Answer:Darwin's ideas were controversial because they directly opposed the creation story of the Bible. The church was very prominent in those times, and was outraged that he would even propose such a thing. Additionally, Europeans found it very difficult to believe that the human race could have come from Africa, simply because of their racialist notions about the Africans.

Why study Africa? What significant contributions does the study of Africa make to our knowledge of the world in which we live? Answer:There are many good reasons to study Africa. The authors of the article that we read in particular proposed that the study of Africa is important because it has shaped the academic disciplines such as anthropology and archeology enormously. Other reasons include: to increase multiculturalism and Afrocentricity, to promote peaceful international relationships, and to fully represent Africa in the modern universities.