West African Kingdoms SOL Standard USI.4c

GHANA, MALI, and SONGHAI each dominated West Africa one after another from 300 to 1600 C.E.

West African Kingdoms Located in the WESTERN region of Africa, south of the Sahara Desert, near the Niger River. Ghana, Mali, and Songhai became POWERFUL by controlling trade in West Africa.

African people and African goods played an important role in European interest in WORLD RESOURCES.

West African Kingdoms The Portuguese made voyages of discovery along the coast of AFRICA. Portugal West Africa

Prince Henry the Navigator PRINCE HENRY THE NAVIGATOR of Portugal opened a school of navigation with the goal of developing better SHIPS, MAPS, and NAVIGATIONAL TOOLS.

Prince Henry the Navigator Prince Henry believed that the most direct way to reach ASIA by sea was to travel around the southern part of AFRICA then sail east along the INDIAN OCEAN. He sent dozens of expeditions along the WESTERN COAST of Africa in search of the best route.

TRADE WITH WEST AFRICA The Portuguese carried GOODS from Europe to West African empires, trading metals, cloth, and other manufactured goods for gold. The Portuguese also traded for ENSLAVED AFRICANS who had been kidnapped and forced into slavery. Enslaved Africans were shipped to EUROPE where they were sold as WORKERS and SERVANTS.