Unit 9 Africa-The Western Empires

TRADE and WEST AFRICAN NATIONS The trade routes primarily ran north to south from Bambuk-Bure and Akan goldfields in the south through major trade centers such as Kumbi-Saleh, Timbuktu and Gao and then across the desert mainly to Morocco.

Markets and then towns and cities grew up in the geographic regions where modes of transport needed to be switched. These market towns connected early West Africa with the wider world to exchange goods and ideas. Rulers set up their courts and governments

The locations gave the kingdoms access to large supplies of highly desirable resources of commodities. Long-distance trade generated great wealth for the early kingdoms of Ghana, Mali and Songhai. The kingdoms taxed the region’s lucrative trade This was crucial for their existence and maintenance Rulers were supported by peasant farmers abundance of grain-based agriculture.

GHANA Began in the 400's CE till 1100's CE Kumbi-Saleh was Ghana's capital and was an important city along the trans-Saharan Trade. Salt was an important trading commodity. Trade was very important to it being a powerful empire. Ghana taxed the trading of goods to make money. Became wealthy by the trans-Saharan trade of gold and salt. For over 500 years, West Africa supplied most of the world's gold. Ghana was defeated by Muslim traders and became an Islamic empire.

MALI Began in the 1200's CE to the 1450s CE Mansa Musa - Muslim leader of Mali. Made a Hajj to Mecca and supported education in Mali. Trade of gold and salt was very important to it being a powerful empire. Was an Islamic empire. Timbuktu became an important trading center for trans-Saharan Trade and a leading center of Islamic education. The religion of Islam influenced a lot of the culture including government, education, and architecture.

SONGHAI By the 1500's was the most powerful empire. Gao was the capital and important in trade and was an important city along the trans Saharan Trade. Trade of gold and salt was very important to it being a powerful empire. Was an Islamic empire. The nation of Morocco eventually conquered Songhai using more advance weapons including cannons and guns.

IMPACT OF ISLAM ON THESE EMPIRES Towns along the trade routes are where merchants of different cultures traded ideas, religions, and goods. Mansa Musa and other Islamic leaders spread Islam thorough trade. Muslim traders called Berbers spread Islam north and south along the trade routes. It was quickly adopted by the Wangara or Dyula(the main long distance traders).

In the towns and cities, Islam became the religion of the elite (upper class), city people, and their leaders. The majority of farmers and herders in the countryside continued to practice local African religions. Islam influenced government, education, architecture, of these three empires. Timbuktu became a leading center of Islamic scholarship and intellectual life.

DECLINE OF THE TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE Once these three empires declined so did the gold and salt trade. The Atlantic Slave trade eventually took over.