The Great African Trading Kingdoms

The Kingdom of Ghana Began AD by the Soninke people This was the first trading empire.

Ghana Called the “land of gold” because it had so much of it. The gold trade was largely responsible for the development of Ghana into a powerful, centralized kingdom. This gold was traded for salt that came down from the Sahara desert.

Ghana Today gold is still being mined in West Africa.

Ghana The use of iron to make tools and weapons was important because these helped Ghana expand its control over neighboring people. The use of the horse and camel were also important factors in how rulers were able to incorporate small farmers and herders into the empire.

Ghana 900s-Muslims came south to conquer Ghana and convert the people to Islam. Islam brought literacy, learning, a strict code of laws, currency, use of credit, and a common religion. The kings authority diminished which opened the door for the Kingdom of Mali to gain power.

The Kingdom of Mali Mali ( AD) stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to modern Nigeria, Ghana included. From 1350 on replaced Ghana as the primary trading kingdom. Controlled the gold and salt trade. Profited greatly from the slave trade. Traded with Egypt and the copper mines to the east.

Mali The founder and first leader of Mali was Sundiata Keita. He was the one who took over Ghana and the West African gold fields.

Mali Mansa Musa-greatly extended Mali’s territory and power. In 1324, made pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca with 60,000 people and 80 camels carrying 300 lbs of gold each.

Mali Several centers of Islamic learning were established in Mali. One was Timbuktu: Muslim scholars came from all over the world to study religion, math, music, law, & literature.

The Kingdom of Songhai Established around AD It included all of the land that the Kingdom of Mali once owned. Songhai was a Muslim kingdom, Islam was a unifying force for the people and an important factor for maintaining state power.

Songhai Kingdom reached its peak under Askia the Great, stretching from western Sudan to Mali Moroccans raided Taghaza’s salt mine and the Songhai were defeated at the Battle of Tongdibi. The empire never recovered.

Lost Kingdom of Zimbabwe Great Zimbabwe, or "house of stone", is the name given to hundreds of great stone ruins spread out over 200 sq mile area within the modern day country of Zimbabwe, which itself is named after the ruins. The exact origin of the word Zimbabwe is not known.

Great Zimbabwe Built consistently throughout AD, the ruins at Great Zimbabwe are some of the oldest and largest structures located in Southern Africa. At its peak, estimates are that the ruins of Great Zimbabwe had as many as 18,000 inhabitants. The ruins that survive are built entirely of stone.

Great Zimbabwe It is believed Great Zimbabwe located south of the Zambezi River was where much of Africa’s gold was mined. Between 1250 and 1450, local African craftsmen built stone structures for Great Zimbabwe’s rulers, priests, and wealthy citizens.

Great Zimbabwe Great Zimbabwe served as middleman between gold miners, ivory hunters in southern Africa, traders on coast Middleman is person who buys something from one person, sells to another, making profit on sale

Great Zimbabwe While there is little known about Great Zimbabwe, its size and influence on the region is just recently being rediscovered. We know Islam was spread throughout Great Zimbabwe like the other African Kingdoms.

What you should have learned: Trading empire: a kingdom that rose to prominence because of its ability to trade goods throughout Africa. These included Ghana, Mali, Songhai, as well as the Ashanti and Benin people. Gold, salt, and slaves were the major items traded. Eventually the British took over and the empires declined and fell.