1. Western Kingdoms Rise and Fall

2. Ghana Rise Niger & Senegal Rivers Controlled the gold & salt trade Traders had to pay taxes Iron Weapons

3. Ghana Decline Ghana declined because the kingdom’s gold sources dried up. Its trade abruptly ended. Its settlements withered away due to drought and famine. It was weakened by Almoravids from North Africa. The kingdom collapsed after an attack by the Sosso ruler, Samaguru of Mali.

4. Mali Rise Sundiata had magical powers, which united the kingdom. Strong army, which was used to conqueror other kingdoms. Took control of gold & salt trade. Timbuktu became a center of learning, commerce and culture.

5. Mali Decline A series of weak kings after Mansa Musa died. The deterioration of climate. The arrival of epidemics (Black Death). Religious conflicts = Civil Wars caused smaller states to break away. Raids by outsiders Mossi: people, living in Burkina Faso. Tuareg: North west African traders. Songhai army seized Timbuktu.

6. Songhai Rise Sonni Ali conquered Timbuktu. Took over gold & Salt trade network plus ivory. Timbuktu was restored as an important center of Islamic learning.

7. Songhai Decline Weak rulers after Mohammad Askia. Moors from Morocco with guns and cannons invaded for gold mines; however, when they could not locate them, they robbed the people & destroyed the towns. The invasion divided Songhai and hurt the trans- Saharan trade, which caused poverty. European Slave Trade.