1. 15-2 West African Civilizations

2. Gold-Salt Trade
Berbers
SALT
GOLD

3. Ghana Gains power by taxing trade caravans Trade: Gold & Salt
People wanted gold, Ghana needed salt
Circular trade of goods b/w Africa & the Mediterranean
800s: Ghana’s kings ruled taxes & gifts
Limited supplies of gold to keep prices up – WHY?

4. Islamic Influences Spread: Faith introduced by settling merchants
North Africa: Conquest
Sub-Sahara: Trade
Faith introduced by settling merchants
Muslim advisors influenced the kings of Ghana
Many maintain belief in animism
Spirits of living things hold a spiritual powers
Almoravid conquest of Ghana disrupts trade
Islamic Influences

5. Mali Kingdom founded by the Mande-speaking peoples
Wealth built on gold – trade routes shift
1st great leader – Sundiata
Conquers Ghana
Establishes peace & prosperity
Established an effective, sophisticated government

6. Mansa Musa Brought stability to Mali after death of Sundiata
Skilled military leader who controlled the gold-salt trade
Governed empire through provinces
Devout Muslim – undertook a hajj
Timbuktu becomes a major place for trade & learning

7. Mali Empire [13c-15c]
SALT
GOLD

8. Timbuktu-”Heavenly Clay”

9. Timbuktu Rooftop, Mosque

10. Ibn Battuta Traveling historian from Tangier, North Africa
Devout Muslim
Explored the Islamic world for 27 years
Wrote extensively about his travels
Timbuktu & Mali (p. 416)
Reached China & wrote about their culture

11. Ibn Battuta’s Journey

12. Songhai Power = controlled trade routes
1464: Sunni Ali – builds empire through conquest
Professional army that was mobile
Captured Timbuktu (Mali’s capital
Acquired Djenné through marriage (trade city)
Songhai

13. Songhai Empire [15c-16c]
SALT
GOLD

14. Askia Muhammad Governs Well
Askia Muhammad – Overthrew Ali’s son for power
Excellent administrator – efficient tax system & specialized officials
Collapses due to lack of modern weapons
1591: Defeated by Moroccan invaders with guns
Askia Mohammed’s Tomb [ ]

15. Hausa City-States Society grouped by a common language
Local rulers controlled farm lands from walled cities w/ horsed-armies
Wealth: Farming & Trade
Kano & Katsina (major trade outposts)
Slave Trade
Zazzau – sells captives to other city-states for goods

16. Yoruba Collection of farming states in the area of Nigeria & Benin
Ifo & Oyo largest kingdoms
Kings = religious & political leaders
Descended from 1st ruler of Ife (religious authority)
Secret society of political & religious figures limit kings
Cities (centers of trade) supported by farms = growth, trade, & art

17. Benin Began in the 1200s near the Niger Delta Ruled based on descent
1400s – Major state = powerful army
Lagos to Niger Delta
Artistic culture – brass & copper
1480s: Benin begin trading with Portugal
Beginning of the slave trade

18. Benin Empire [15c-19c]

19. Key Idea
In West Africa three empires—Ghana, Mali, and Songhai—thrive by controlling the trade of gold and salt. Muslim merchants and teachers bring Islam to West Africa. Other major states develop there, including the Hausa city-states, the Yoruba kingdoms of Ife and Oyo, and Benin.

20. Overview • Ghana • Mali • Sundiata • Mansa Musa • Ibn Battuta
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Ghana
• Mali
• Sundiata
• Mansa Musa
• Ibn Battuta
• Songhai
• Hausa
• Yoruba
• Benin
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
West Africa contained several powerful empires and states, including Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
These empires demonstrate the richness of African culture before European colonization.

21. Section 2
Assessment
Copy this graphic into your notes to help organize your thoughts. List characteristics of stateless societies.
Mali
Songhai
Both
Broke away from Mali; had war canoes, mobile horseback fighters, and strong centralized government
Revived salt/gold trade, had strict judicial system, built mosques, visited by Ibn Battuta
Controlled Timbuktu, had strong leaders, created Muslim empires, dominated trade

22. Section 2
Assessment
2.  Which of the two—the Yoruba people or the people of Benin—had more influence on the other? Explain.
THINK ABOUT
• when the kingdoms flourished
• political traditions of each
• artistic traditions of each
ANSWER
Possible Responses:
• The Yoruba people had more influence—their kingdoms flourished earlier.
• Benin’s kings claimed descent from a Yoruba king.
• Benin’s artists claimed to have learned from Yoruba artists.

23. Section 2
Assessment
3.  What do you think was the most effective method Ghana used to regulate its economy? Explain. THINK ABOUT
• trade routes
• ownership of gold
• taxes
ANSWER
• Controlling trade routes, because Ghana’s rulers could grow rich by taxing traders.
• The law that only the king could own gold nuggets, because it kept inflation down.
• Laws and practices ensuring fair trade and deterring bandits, because they helped trade thrive.
Possible Responses:

24. http://www.classzone.com/webquest/MC_interactive s/MT_03_traroutes/MT_03_087_traroutes.html