Ch 5 – Islam Reaches West Africa EQ’s – How AND why did Islam reach West Africa? 2. How did the introduction of Islam AND Arabic change West Africa?

Africa West Africa

Q1: West Africa’s Vegetation Zones West Africa has 3 main types of Vegetation Zones Vegetation Zone = region, or area, that has certain types of plants

Rainforests Rainforests have dense vegetation (plants) and heavy rainfall Home to several animals: panthers, snakes, many types of birds, and monkeys

Desert Vegetation zone of North Africa is mostly desert Desert known as Sahara One of the most famous deserts in the world, because of the trade routes that pass through the Sahara

Savannah Grasslands that contain a variety of animals Little vegetation because it only rains a few times a year Many animals: Lions, zebras, Hippos, gazelles, and Cheetahs

Africa West Africa

Q2: Niger River River runs across West Africa Niger River was key route for transportation Niger River also important to communication and trade Helps produce good soil for farm lands

Niger River

Q3: West African Cities Population growth and trade lead to formation of West African kingdoms including Ghana (1st ), Mali (2nd), and Songhai (3rd) West Africans traded gold and slaves with North Africa for salt

FYI: Ghana Controls Trade Ghana’s location (between North and Southwest Africa) allowed it to control all Trans-Saharan trade/gold-salt trade routes All traders passing through paid HEAVY taxes These taxes made Ghana rich.

FYI: Families in West African Powerful empires controlled West Africa, but rulers did not greatly affect average people Most people felt greater sense of loyalty to village and family Most farmed or herded animals for a living, some worked in trade

Q4: Oral Tradition For centuries West Africa had no written language or written histories Recorded their culture using oral tradition Storytellers, known as griots, memorized important village histories and cultural values and shared them through stories and songs

Q5: Trans-Saharan Trade W. Africa had gold but wanted salt N. Africa had salt but wanted gold As a result, the Trans-Saharan trade developed Trans-Saharan Trade = Trade across the Sahara Desert Trade included salt, gold, slaves, food/crops, cloth, spices, and more Trade across the desert was VERY difficult, camel caravans helped to increase trans-Saharan trade

FYI: Important Trading Items Gold and Salt most important trading items North Africans wanted gold Valuable Pretty/Decorative Could trade for other goods Southwestern Africans wanted salt Important for diet Kept food from spoiling Liked the taste

The Sahara Desert: Largest Sand Desert in the World!

Q6: The Berbers Most traders of gold and salt across Sahara Berbers established trade routes in Trans-Saharan trade to get to West Africa Berbers introduced written language of Arabic, and Islam to West Africa

West Africa ----> Middle East <-------- (Where Islam started)

Q7: Introduction of Islam Some kept their traditional religious beliefs while others decided to convert to Islam Many kings of Ghana and “upper class” converted to Islam, and looked to the Qur’an in creating new laws for West Africa +

Q8: Arabic Changes West Africa Used Arabic language in governments Many West Africans began to learn to read and write Arabic so they could study the Qur’an Many West African Muslims were able to get jobs within the government because they were now able to read and write (increased literacy) +

Q9: Timbuktu Timbuktu was center for culture, trade, and Islamic scholarship Timbuktu’s development as a cultural center started an interest in learning and inspired by the spread of the Arabic language Religious scholars taught history, theology and law in Timbuktu Attracted best poets and artists in Africa and S.W. Asia