V. Trading Empires

Trading Empires of Africa

Africa A. Kingdom of Axum ( CE) 1. Founded by Arabs in modern day Ethiopia a. Blending of African and Arab cultures b. Established on a major trade route between India and the Mediterranean world -imports included ivory, frankincense, myrr, and slaves c. King converted to Christianity in 324 CE -became the only Christian kingdom in Africa -said to be the home of the Ark Extent of the Kingdom of Axum

Africa (cont’d) B. Kingdom of Ghana ( CE) 1. Located in West Africa, just below the Sahara a. Decentralized government b. King relied on a large, powerful army to maintain control and protect the kingdom 2. Had great wealth due to trade and possession of raw materials a. Gold mines and iron ore, salt 3. Agricultural society a. majority of people were farmers, but society had many merchants -camal caravans -traded with Europe

Extent of the Mali Empire (ca. 1350) Africa (cont’d) C. Kingdom of Mali ( CE) 1. Located in West Africa, in the same location as the kingdom it conquered, Ghana. a. Sundiata Keita conquered the Ghanese capital in the 13 th century. -He united the people under strong, centralized leadership 2. One of the most important and famous cities was Timbuktu a. Center of wealth and learning b. A university was established there 3. Most people farmed, but extensively participated in trade a. Gold and salt 4. Richest and most powerful ruler was Mansa Musa a. He doubled the size of the kingdom b. Divided it into administrative provinces c. Most famous for his pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca

Africa (cont’d) D. Kingdom of Songhai ( CE) 1. Established along the Niger River a. River flooded banks with silt -Good for irrigation and cattle herding b. First ruler was a Muslim ruler named Kossi 2. Prospered due to its position along Islamic trade routes between North Africa, West Africa, and Arabia 3. In 1464 a new ruler named Sunni Ali conquered the Mali empire, doubling the size of the empire and taking over Mali’s trade routes as well a. traded gold, salt 4. Height of the empire came under Muhammed Ture a. he controlled much of West Africa b. utilized a strong army and navy to maintain control c. slave trading increased The Songhai Empire, (ca. 1500)

Africa (cont’d) E. Other societies in Africa 1. East Africa a. Islamic and Indian traders established port-cities to stimulate trade between the Indian Ocean and inner-Africa -Mogadishu, Mombasa, and Kilwa b. Blending of Islamic, Arabic, Indian, and African cultures created the Swahili culture and language 2. South Africa a. For the most part until the 11th century most people here lived in “stateless societies” -a group of independent villages organized by clans and led by a local ruler b. Some of these clans consolidated are grew into centralized kingdoms -Great Zimbabwe: wealthiest and most powerful kingdom ( ), gold trade