1. Aim: How did great empires influence the history of Africa?
Do Now: Make a list of 5 things that make a civilization great.
Homework: Handout –”Ibn Battuta Travels to Mali”
Global II – Mr. McEntarfer

2. Instructional Objectives
We will be able to:
Describe the characteristics of the kingdoms of West Africa.
Describe how cultural diffusion affected West African religion.
Agenda:
Do Now
Mini-lecture (slides)
Reading Activity
Summary
Regents Practice (if time)
Homework

3. Why might it be difficult to learn about African history?
Oral Tradition
The Griots of Africa
Why might it be difficult to learn about African history?

4. What geographic features affected the African Kingdoms? How?

5. The Gold and Salt Trade
Caravans brought salt south to Ghana and returned north with gold from areas southwest of Ghana.
Ghana came to be known as the “Gold Coast.”
Question: Why do you think salt was so valuable?

6. Early trade routes in Ghana
What geographical feature did the trade routes cross north of Ghana? How do you think goods were transported? What was traded?
Early trade routes in Ghana

7. What does this wall represent?

8. Timbuktu
Timbuktu became the center of West African gold and salt trade across the Sahara Desert.
Center of learning that attracted students from Europe, Africa and Asia. Many of whom studied the Quran.
Mali’s King Mansa Musa brought back scholars and architects from his pilgrimage to Mecca here.
How was Timbuktu different from other trading cities like Venice and Canton?

9. Timbuktu today. The books below are over 400 years old.

10. Activity – Guided Reading (285-287)
Part I – Independent
Groups of Three (1. Ghana 2. Mali 3. Songhai).
Use the reading on pages and fill in four facts about each African kingdom in the boxes. For each kingdom give information about:
It’s location
Sources of wealth
Religion practiced
Great Leaders and their accomplishments
Part II – Come together as a group
As a group fill in the last box on all three African Kingdoms, which asks you to identify the similarities between the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali and Songhai.
Part III – Share out on the board.

11. Share-out
Ghana

12. Mali

13. Songhai

14. Ghana, Mali and
Songhai

15. Review Notes Ghana Mali Location – Niger and Senegal Rivers
Religion – Islam diffused from N. Africa
Economy – Controlled gold and salt trade across the Sahara
Leadership – King was semi-divine and very wealthy
Mali
Located - Niger River
Religion – Islam
Economy – Controlled gold and salt trade caravans
Leadership – Mansa Musa expanded empire and converted to Islam. Went on a pilgrimage to Mecca and spread Middle eastern ideas in West Africa.

16. Review Notes Songhai Ghana, Mali and Songhai Located - Niger River
Religion – Islamic state set up after Sonni Ali’s death
Economy – Brought salt and gold trade under their control, including Timbuktu.
Leadership – Sonni Ali used a powerful army to forge a large empire, not a Muslim.
Ghana, Mali and Songhai
Located - Niger River, bordered the Sahara Desert.
Religion – All kingdoms adapted Islam (cultural diffusion)
Economy – All controlled the salt and gold trade and Timbuktu.
Leadership – Wealthy and powerful kings adapted Islam, except Sonni Ali.

17. Summary Questions Why were these West African Kingdoms so wealthy?
Why did these civilizations develop along the Niger River?
Why was Timbuktu such an important city?
What religion was practiced in all of these kingdoms?
Why is Mansa Musa such an important figure in West African history?

18. Regents Practice

19. Regents Practice

20. Regents Practice