Basic 3 · History · Inter-Group Relations
Money and Exchange Long Ago
In this topic you will learn how people paid for goods long ago, including barter and cowrie shells.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain barter
- Name cowrie shells and gold dust as old money
- Compare old and new ways of paying
What you already know
- Crafts and goods exchanged
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- My country Ghana
- Sub-strand
- Inter-Group Relations
- Indicator
- B3.2.2.1.2 – Name some of the items exchanged among the various groups
Introduction
Long ago, there were no cedi notes. A fisherman might give fish for yams. Later, people used cowrie shells and gold dust as money.
1. Barter
Barter: Exchanging goods directly for other goods without money.
Example: 3 dried fish for 1 tuber of yam.
Problem: you must find someone who wants what you have and has what you want.
2. Old Forms of Money
| Money | How it was used |
|---|---|
| cowrie shells | small shells counted to buy goods |
| gold dust | weighed with brass gold weights |
| salt | sometimes used to pay |
3. Today
Today we use the Ghana cedi, mobile money and bank cards.
New words
- barter
- Exchanging goods without money.
- cowrie
- A small shiny shell once used as money.
- gold dust
- Tiny grains of gold.
- gold weight
- A small brass object used to weigh gold dust.
Summary
- Barter is exchanging goods without money.
- Cowrie shells and gold dust were used as money.
- Today we use cedis, mobile money and cards.
Class activity: Barter Market
- Use the tray of local items.
- Try to barter one item for another.
- Talk about what was hard about bartering.
You need: Ghana map, Tray of local barter-item samples, Pictures, Cowrie shells, Source-area cards
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Exchanging goods without money is…
- A. Barter
- B. Saving
- C. Borrowing
- D. Banking
Show answer
Answer: BarterThat is barter.2. Which shell was used as money?
- A. Cowrie
- B. Snail
- C. Crab
- D. Tortoise
Show answer
Answer: CowrieCowries were counted as money.3. Gold dust was weighed with gold weights.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueBrass weights measured it.4. Barter is always easy.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseYou must find someone who wants your goods.5. Small shells once used as money are ______ shells.
Show answer
Answer: cowrieThat is cowries.6. Name two old forms of money in Ghana.
Show answer
Answer: Any two: cowrie shells, gold dust, salt.These were old money.
Homework
- Ask an elder if they have ever seen cowrie shells used as money.