Civilizations of Ancient Africa

Climate Zones Desert Sahara and Kalahari Northern Africa and Southwestern Africa Cover about 40% of Africa

Climate Zones Mild Zones Northern coast, tip of the Cape of Good Hope Moderate rainfall, warm temperatures Fertile land, supports high population

Climate Zones Rain forest Congo Basin 10% of Africa Heavy rain, high temperatures Dense forests Many disease carrying insects, including the tsetse fly, which can infect people and animals with sleeping sickness

Climate Zones Savanna Central Africa, Eastern Africa, part of the island of Madagascar 40% of Africa Grasslands with small trees and shrubs Unreliable amounts of rain

Islam Spread through Africa along trade routes Popular monotheistic religion in Northern Africa Popularity was supported by the widespread use of the Arabic language The Koran (Muslim holy book) prohibited the enslavement of Muslims by other Muslims; religion became a protection against the slave trade

History of the Region Griot- west African storyteller These empires relied on storytelling and oral traditions to pass on information Written records of these empires comes from outsiders writing about them

GHANA: 300 to 1100CE Location Language Leaders Western Africa Modern day Mauritania, Senegal, Mali Along the Niger River South of the Sahara Desert Savanna Grasslands Language Mande Arabic brought by traders Leaders The name of the empire comes from the title “Ghana” which means warrior king in Mande

GHANA Resources Miscellaneous Decline Cloth/textiles Gold Salt Slaves Trade routes The location was its most valuable resource Miscellaneous First accounts of Ghana are recorded by the Arab traders Islam became the dominant religion Decline Attacked by the Almoravids Battles between the Almoravids and Ghana continued for 14 years Trade routes were unsafe due to fighting Environment was destroyed due to introduction of non-indigenous animals that overgrazed Rebellions rooted in political discontent and starvation made it easy to conquer GHANA

MALI: 1235-1600CE Location Language Leaders Western Africa Modern day Mali, Niger, Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea, Gambia Along the Niger River which allowed them to control river trade Language Mande Arabic Leaders Sundaita Keita Led Mali to defeat their rivals, the Sossos Conquered Ghana Mansa Musa Famously undertook a hajj Hajj= pilgrimage/ religious trip to Mecca Was incredibly wealthy Supported education and scholarship MALI: 1235-1600CE

MALI Religion Resources Decline Many of the upper class and merchants had converted to Islam Many people practiced a version of Islam that combined beliefs with the local traditions and beliefs Resources Gold Salt Timbuktu Major trade city Center of education and learning Decline The empire became less powerful with the death of Mansa Musa and his descendants could not maintain the large empire Conquered by the Songhai MALI

SONGHAI: 1461-1591 Location Language Leaders South of the Sahara Desert Along the Niger River 1,000 miles stretch from modern day Niger to the Atlantic Ocean; including the modern day Mali Language Arabic Supported by trade with Muslims from the Middle East and the growing population of Muslim West Africans Leaders Sunni Ali Prince of the Songhai who had been held as a political prisoner by the Mali Escaped to Gao, which became the capital city Led invasions of important trading cities, like Timbuktu and Djenne Askia Muhammad Founded the Askia dynasty Devout Muslim Took control of gold and salt mines from the Mali Government Divided the empire into 5 provinces All his advisors and administrators were Muslim

Songhai Resources Decline Slave trade Gold Salt Weakened due to internal strife and civil war 1591- Moroccan army invaded and captured Timbuktu and Gao Entire empire collapsed