throughout the West African empires, most positions of
- men took part in
- women
and Islamic learning
and took care of the family
- West African society was organized by a
- a person's structure
were reserved for men
of social
(or social class) determined that individual's place in the social
- a person's caste was established by the family they were born into
Social Structure
- the emperor ruled each empire
- had the most
- nobility and kings formed the next-highest caste
- nobles helped the emperor
- they lead
- they paid
- next were traders and free people
- ran businesses and farms
and the highest
the various parts of the empire
to the emperor
- next were skilled workers
- each trade (skill) formed a different caste
- artisans, blacksmiths, weavers, potters, etc.
- they were highly respected and had specialized knowledge
- farmers and laborers formed the next caste
- they worked the land and provided food for the empire
- at the bottom of the social structure were slaves
- they had no rights and were often captured in raids or born into slavery
- slaves were owned by higher-ranking individuals or the state itself
- they performed various tasks and were considered the property of their owners
Overall, the social structure in West African empires was hierarchical and based on a person's occupation and social status. Men typically held positions of power and authority, while women played essential roles in Islamic learning and taking care of the family. A person's caste was determined by the family they were born into, and their social class determined their place in society. The emperor ruled each empire, supported by nobility and kings. Traders, free people, skilled workers, farmers, laborers, and slaves formed different castes within the society.