1. The Kingdoms of West Africa

2. Empire of Ghana
Trade was vital to the societies of West Africa. That region produced valuable resources—notably gold—that brought high prices. By the 800s, rulers of Ghana had used the wealth from these products to create a huge, powerful empire.
Ghana had many resources, but location delayed development as trading empire
Had no easy access to sea
Sahara desert blocked overland trade routes
The Rise of Ghana
First few centuries CE, North African traders learned how to cross Sahara
Traveled in large caravans with camels
Camels did not need much water, could survive trip across harsh desert
Desert Travel
Once traders began crossing Sahara, Ghana became key player in African trade
Berber traders traded food, hard goods, copper, salt for gold
Ghana traded salt to people in south, where salt scarce
Goods for Gold

3. A Trading Empire Control Salt Taxes
800 AD, Ghana controlled nearly all trade of salt, gold in sub-Saharan Africa
Capital, Koumbi-Saleh, located between Ghana’s gold mines, desert trade routes, was preferred trading place
Salt Taxes
Ghana’s kings built great wealth taxing goods brought to empire’s markets
Majority of taxes charged on salt: charged fee for each load of salt brought into Ghana from north, larger fee for each load exported to south
Gold Supply Scarce
Gold not taxed the same; taxes might discourage traders from buying gold
To keep gold prices high, kings ruled only they could own large gold nuggets
Others could only own gold dust; kept location of gold mines secret
This kept supply of gold scarce; kept market from being flooded

4. Kings of Ghana
Money from trade & taxes allowed kings to live lavish lifestyle
Luxury surrounding kings described by Muslim writer who visited Ghana:
“He sits in a pavilion around which stand ten pages holding shields and gold-mounted swords: and on his right hand are the sons of the princes of the empire, splendidly clad and with gold plaited into their hair.”
Ghana’s kings also used wealth to build up huge army when needed
Used army to conquer other peoples in area
Captured people sold as slaves to Muslim traders

5. Ghana’s Decline By mid-1000s, Ghana’s empire rich and powerful
King tried to expand to north into lands controlled by Almoravids, a Muslim Berber kingdom
Attempt led to long war
In 1076, Almoravids captured Koumbi-Saleh, Ghana’s capital
Attempts at Expansion
Almoravids controlled capital temporarily
Ghana’s empire was weakened
King unable to deal with rebellion in part of empire
Soon Ghana fell into decline; new empire took its place
Results of Conflict

6. Summarize How did the kings of Ghana become wealthy?
Answer(s): by taxing salt and gold, by controlling the price of gold

7. Mali Empire
After Ghana’s decline, no one kingdom controlled trans-Saharan trade. In the 1230s, the empire of Mali rose to power on the same territory. Mali expanded to the Atlantic Ocean and became a wealthy and sophisticated empire.
Founders of Mali, Malinke had been active in Ghana’s gold trade
1230, grew frustrated with policies of neighboring peoples, rose up to conquer them; became leading power in West Africa
Rise of Mali
Leader of Mali’s rise to power, king named Sundiata
After conquest, Sundiata ruled 25 years
Story of reign, accomplishments told in epic, also called Sundiata
Sundiata
Mali reached its height in the 1300s under the reign of a mansa, or king, named Musa.

9. Mansa Musa Growing Wealth Islam in Mali
A relative of Sundiata, Mansa Musa came to power in During his reign, Mali’s territory expanded and its population grew.
During Musa’s reign, Mali grew wealthier than ever
Much wealth came from taxation of gold-salt trade
Mali kept order along Saharan trade routes by using large army
Army also kept life in Mali relatively peaceful
Growing Wealth
Mansa Musa devout Muslim
Introduced into West Africa by Muslim traders in Ghana, Islam did not take hold initially
In Mali, Islam became powerful influence, especially among ruling class
1324, Musa set out on a pilgrimage to Mecca
Islam in Mali

11. Effects Outside Africa
Musa’s Pilgrimage to Mecca
Musa and entourage impressed people with their lavish clothing, generous gifts, and large amount of gold
Trip to Mecca led to great changes in Mali, Timbuktu
Returning to kingdom, Musa brought artists, architects who designed beautiful mosques; also built schools, libraries where people could study Qu’ran, other Islamic writings
Musa’s hajj (pilgrimage) brought Mali to attention of Europe
Mali began to appear on European maps for first time
Within a century, Europeans began to search West Africa for source of Mali’s riches
Effects Outside Africa
Rulers following Musa not as strong
Several peoples broke away, set up independent kingdoms
Mali also invaded from outside
Among invaders, Tuareg
1433, captured Timbuktu, a blow from which Mali never recovered
Decline of Mali

12. What effects did Mansa Musa’s travels have in Mali and Europe?
Analyze
What effects did Mansa Musa’s travels have in Mali and Europe?
Answer(s): Made Timbuktu a center of learning;
brought Mali to the attention of Europeans, who would later travel to West Africa in search of Mali's riches

13. Empire of Songhai Songhai
Songhai existed as small kingdom for centuries, paid tribute to Ghana & Mali
Grew wealthy trading goods along Niger River
Came in contact with Muslim traders; Islam became influence on culture
Rise of Songhai
1460s, rulers had become strong, rich enough to take control of former empire of Mali
Songhai’s rise under leadership of military leader, Sunni, named Sunni Ali
Military Leadership
Ali’s first act as leader: took Timbuktu from the Tuareg
Led number of campaigns against neighboring peoples to build empire
Military success came from army of skilled cavalry, navy of war canoes
Conquered new territories, replaced local leaders with Ali’s own followers

14. Askia Muhammad Pilgrimage
Songhai’s culture reached height under Askia Muhammad
Reign considered to be golden age
During 35 years he ruled, Askia Muhammad expanded Songhai, strengthened its government
Pilgrimage
Askia Muhammad, Songhai’s first Muslim ruler
Islam had been introduced earlier; Sunni Ali never became Muslim
To show commitment, Askia Muhammad decided to make pilgrimage to Mecca
Traveled through Egypt, gained support of Muslim rulers

15. Results of Pilgrimage Trade Resumed Control, Decline
During pilgrimage, Askia Muhammad made contact with traders from North Africa
Trans-Saharan trade that had slowed after fall of Mali resumed once again
Increased commerce made Songhai very wealthy kingdom
Askia Muhammad used wealth to once again make Timbuktu center of culture, Islamic scholarship
Trade Resumed
To secure control of trade, Askia Muhammad extended Songhai’s borders north into desert, home of the Tuareg
Did not want raiders to interfere with traveling merchants
Reformed government, built offices in capital city of Gao to oversee trade, agriculture, military
Eventually overthrown by son
By 1591 empire conquered by Morocco
Control, Decline

17. What kind of government did Askia Muhammad create in Songhai?
Describe
What kind of government did Askia Muhammad create in Songhai?
Answer(s): strengthened the government, appointed an official to rule the western part of the empire

18. Miscellaneous Information
Swahili culture/language= blending of African (Bantu) and Arab traders
African slave trade began to increase during this period in world history
East Africans, Arabs, and Indians traded along the east coast of Africa (Through the use of Lateen sail boats called Dhow)