MariaReveche

November27,2014
Hons91A/2A
Q2Assignment1:PersuasiveEssay

Whatwouldyousay,ifyouweregiventheopportunitytoberich,whilecarryingonan
averagelife?LivingintheancientcivilizationofGhana,evenasacommoner,wouldbethe
equivalentoflivingasaverywealthypersontoday.Thepeoplewerepeacelovingand
importanttothegovernment,lawsweregentle,anddistrictleadersmadesurethatthingswere
fairforeveryone.Thegeographyandclimateallowedforplentifulfoodandwater,andtherich,
uniqueculturesetsitapartfromanyothercivilization.(
Donn, Lin. "Ancient African Kingdom of
Ghana."
Ancient Africa for Students
. Web.)
TheancientAfricancivilizationofGhana,alsoknownasWagadugu,hadanabundance
ofnaturalresourcesthatallowedprosperoustradingandvastwealthforall.Itliterallysatona
giganticgoldmine.Asaresultofbeingoneofthebiggesttradecentersintheworldduringits
time,Ghanawassorichthatitsdogsoftenworegoldencollarsandhorses(whichwere
adornedwithsilkenropehalters)sleptonplushcarpets.Basedonanimalluxuriesalone,itsno
wonderthatGhanabecameknownbyforeignersasthelandoftherichestmenintheworld.
(
"Kingdom of Ghana."
Ancient Civilizations Online Textbook
. Web.)
Ifyoumovedhere,you
wouldbediningwithgoldcutleryandadmiringstatuesofpuregoldonadailybasis.
AnotherreasonyouwouldwanttoliveintheKingdomofGhanawouldbethekindand
fairpolitics.Everyday,thekingassembledincourtwithacouncilofeldersandallowedthe
peopletopubliclyvoicetheircomplaints.Whethertheywereaboutneighborlyconflictsora
violationofrights,thekingwouldlistentoallandofferhisjudgement.Thesetrialswereusually
peaceful,unlesstheyinvolvedissuesofcriminalnature.
(Donn, Lin. "Ancient African Kingdom
of Ghana."
Ancient Africa for Students
. Web).
Thissystemofallowingthepeopletobeheardby
thegoverningofficialskeptpeaceandjusticeinthedistrictsoftheempireandmadethesociety
extremelyfairtothecitizens.
Howwouldyouliketoliveknowingthatyouwouldalwayshavesomethingtoeat,and
cleanwatertodrink?Thegeographicallocationoftheempirecontributestothecharmof
movinghere.AncientGhana,beinginadifferentareathanpresentdayGhanaislocated,had
theNigerriverrunningthroughit.(
"Ghana Empire."
Britannica School.
Encyclopdia
Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web.)
Thisprovidedcleanwaterforbathingandwashing.Thisalsogave
plentytoeat,astherewasamplefishandwaterfowlintheriver.Thepeopleherewerealso
farmersinadditiontofishermen.Theygrewsweetpotatoesandothervegetables.Ifyoumoved
backtothistime,youwouldalwayshavefood.
Oneofthequalitiesthatsticksoutthemostaboutthistimeistheuniquecultureofthese
peoples.Theywerecreativeartistsandstorytellers.Artistswovecottonfabricswithdesigns
paintedontheminwetmud.Whenleftinthesuntodry,itwouldleavetheoneofakindpattern
permanent.Storytellers,orGriotsastheywerecalled,toldstoriesoftheirmanygodsand
goddesses,theirpeople,theirvillages,andgreatkings.(
Donn, Lin. "Ancient African Kingdom
of Ghana."
Ancient Africa for Students
. Web.)
Storieswereaccompaniedwithbeautifulmusic

andsong,whichinspireddancing.Stories,whileentirelyfictional,kepttheirhistoryalivefor
generationstocome.
LivingintheancientcivilizationofGhana,evenasacommoner,wouldbetheequivalent
oflivingasaverywealthypersontoday.Thepeoplewholivedduringthistimeperiodandinthis
civilizationenjoyedprosperityasaresultofthelandsabundantresources.(
"Kingdom of
Ghana."
Ancient Civilizations Online Textbook.Web.)
Similarly,thegoverningofficials,suchas
kingsandpoliticiansallowedthepeopletopubliclyvoicetheiropinionsandcomplaints.Aswell
asthis,thesepeoplepossessedauniqueandrichcultureinwhicheverypersoninthecaste
systemwereabletoparticipateinenjoyablepastimes.Herearemoredetailsastowhyyou
wouldwanttomovetothisancientcivilization.
MovingtotheancientAfricancivilizationofGhanawouldbeaverygoodidea.The
peoplewholivedduringthistimeperiodandinthiscivilizationenjoyedprosperityasaresultof
thelandsabundantresources.Similarly,thegoverningofficials,suchaskingsandpoliticians
allowedthepeopletopubliclyvoicetheiropinionsandcomplaints.Aswellasthis,thesepeople
possessedauniqueandrichcultureinwhicheverypersoninthecastesystemwereableto
participateinenjoyablepastimes.