Ashanti Empire

Adriana,Anna,Connor,Sydney,
and Maya
 History

The Ashanti Empire began in 1670.

The golden stool
It ended in 1957.
The tribe was located in central Ghana, and it was the largest in Ghana.
The Ashanti people are known for the Golden Stool which was said to
have fallen down from the sky and landed on the first Ashanti king, Osei
Tutu. It was said that the spirit of the Ashanti people lies in the golden
stool, so it is greatly valued.
The tribe covers around 9,400 square miles of land.
The capital of the tribe is Kumasi.
Major Events
Founded in 1670
1701, Osei Tutu becomes chef , claims land for Asante Union,
Independence from Denkyira
Began trading with Europeans in early 1700s
British invaded/captured kumasi, in 1874
Retaken by rebels in 1896
British tried one last time to take the land in 1900
In 1902 they claimed the area

Wikipedia
Politics
The government is shaped like a pyramid
King heads the Ashanti Confederacy Council (group made up of paramount chiefs)
A paramount chief heads over district chiefs
A district chief heads over a District Council of Elders (made up of sub chiefs)
Villages are brought together by a sub chief
The Ashanti Empire bureaucracy are non elected officials of the
government who enforce laws
Ashanti king is called Asantehene and has the most power in the
empire (the only person who can proclaim death sentences)
The Asantehene Osei Tutu organized an Ashanti union (a group of
akan speaking people who were loyal to the Asantehene)
The Golden Stool- represented the people of Ashanti, the soul of the
nation, and the good fortune of the nation
Legitmizes the rule of its possessor
Is housed in the Asante royal palace in Kumasi, Asante
Is very precious to the Ashanti people
Religion
Ashanti people believe in a combination of spiritual and supernatural
beliefs
They believe that plants and animals have souls
They believe in forest monsters, witches, and fairies
They practice a variety of religions, depending on ancestors
Practice ceremonies for birth, death, marriage, and puberty
Music
In Ashanti oral traditions indicates that music played a major role in their
social-economic and political behavior
Osei Tutu(Founder of Ashanti Kingdom) is remembered in music for using
MPEBI and NKRAWIRI drums.
New musical types/instruments were adapted to Ashanti came into
contact with other states.
Clothing
Clothing, both expensive, western, and traditional items, are an important
symbol of education and wealth
Kings/higher class people marked their status by their clothes
Therefore, they carried umbrellas and staves, and the exclusive right to
wear expensive clothing such as Kente cloth
 Survival & Jobs:
Families live in various homes and huts built by hand
set up around a courtyard
Girls are taught cooking and housekeeping by their
mother
Girls and women work in fields to gather necessary
items, like water
Girls and women are allowed to pick cotton or spin
materials for thread, but only men can weave cloth
 Resources
Cotton and silk are used to make cloth and clothes
Clay is used for pottery and comes in a variety of colors
Wood is not only used for construction, but it is carved
Metal is transformed by metal casting
There are many plants,trees, and animals
Raffia fibers are used to weave cloths that look like
kenten (a basket)
Citations
https://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/ashanti.htm
"Ashanti Empire/ Asante Kingdom (18th to Late 19th Century) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed." Ashanti Empire/ Asante
Kingdom (18th to Late 19th Century) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2017.

Guide, Africa. "Ashanti People." Ashanti People. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2017.

"10 Things You Didn't Know About The Ashanti Kingdom." How Africa News. N.p., 26 Dec. 2015. Web. 09 Jan. 2017.

http://www.reunionblackfamily.com/apps/blog/show/7032581-ashanti-kindom-politics-and-religion-