Ch. 1, Sec. 3 Trading Kingdoms of West Africa Ghana –Started around AD 300 by Soninke families banding together for protection –Location was good, but SALT and gold made Ghana a trading giant, and taxing traders –Islam became a popular religion b/c of Arab traders. –Almoravids cut off trade routes and attacked Ghana around 1060 and took over

Mali –Started along the Niger River grew b/c of controlling the river –Mansa Musa ruled from 1312 to 1337 adding trade cities like Timbuktu by trading salt, gold and other goods –Famous for hajj or religious pilgrimage to Mecca –Musa spread word of his wealth during hajjs and brought Islam stronger to his lands

Songhai –Took over Mali around 1400s when Askia the Great led –Askia was a military leader who was Muslim –He set up a professional army and appointed governors loyal to him Slave Trade –Started nations capturing people through war, then people who owed debts, and criminals –Muslim and European traders came to trade for slaves