1. Aim: How did the West African Kingdom of Ghana develop into a powerful empire? Do Now : 1. Why do certain products have more value to a group of people than other products? 2. What product was valuable to the people of Ghana?

2. A.Three sources of knowledge— archaeology, oral history, and written sources by North Africans. No written language—south of the Sahara

3. Berbers GOLD SALT Gold-Salt Trade

4. Do not copy these questions! 1. Why was salt so important and valuable in trans-Saharan trade? Is there any product that is a necessity of life that must be brought into the region? What kind of economic situation do you think the demand for this item creates in your society?

5. 1.Ghana might have existed back in 400AD 2. By 800, it was a thriving trading center. Around 1070, it was one of most powerful empires in the world.

6. Gold “Money”, Ghana/Ivory Coast Ghana Empire [4c-11c]

7. Salt

8. B. Economics and Geography 1.South of Sahel—southern part of the Sahara 2. Savannah—grasslands—farm, raise livestock, and traded gold for salt. 3. West African kings were willing to pay for it in large amounts for gold. Can you think of other examples in history when one item, natural or man made, had the potential to change a society?

9. Do not copy this! How did camels revolutionize trans- Saharan trade?

10. 3. Trans-Saharan caravan—use of camels to trade. Camels can travel long stretches without rest. 4. Trade with Muslim merchants who used camels. Arab Muslims resisted pirates as they traveled to Ghana.

11. C. Impact on Political and Social organization 1. Technology: developed the art of ironwork—King of Ghana had 200,000 men in the field with iron spears. 2. The king of Ghana had absolute power— governors worked under him and controlled local areas.

12. 3. Traders were protected by the military and allowed safe passage. 4. Tax system—outside traders had to pay equal amount in goods for the right to trade. 5. Muslim merchants were allowed to live in the Ghana Empire as long as they paid taxes.

13. Why did Ghana decline??

14. D. The Decline 1. The king lost his trading monopoly. 2. Drought—couldn’t cultivate land. 3. Outside forces-Muslim advance