Section 3: The Kingdoms of West Africa

Section 3: The Kingdoms of West Africa Main Idea The expansion of trade across the Sahara led to the development of great empires and other states in West Africa. Reading Focus How did trade contribute to the rise of Ghana? How did strong rulers build the empire of Mali? What were the greatest achievements of the Songhai Empire? What other societies arose in West Africa?

I. West Africa West African cities grew into major commercial centers based on the trade of salt and gold

A. Empire of Ghana The earliest West African kingdom was Ghana, established by the Soninke people after AD 300

A. Empire of Ghana A.D. 1235 - Invasions and loss of the salt trade weakened Ghana. It was replaced by the kingdom of Mali.

Mali reached its peak in the A.D. 1300s under the ruler Mansa Musa B. Mali Empire Mali reached its peak in the A.D. 1300s under the ruler Mansa Musa Mansa Musa was the ruler of the vast Mandingo kingdom of Mali. From the mines of West Africa he amassed legendary amounts of gold, which his subjects traded for salt, weight for weight.

B. Mali Empire Timbuktu became a center of learning. Its university drew scholars from Egypt and Arabia A cultured center of learning and trade for a thousand years, Timbuktu crowns the bend of the Niger river in Mali. Its soaring towers, adobe architecture and plaster reliefs belong to a cultural style seen from Senegal to Nubia. Legend says that a woman named Buktu founded the city, and so it is named "Place of Buktu."

C. Empire of Songhai A.D. 1468 - Rebel leader Sunni ‘Ali captured Timbuktu and established the kingdom of Songhai The shaded portion indicates the greatest extent of the Songhai empire, ca. sixteenth century

Songhai was centered at the trading city of Gao on the Niger River C. Empire of Songhai Songhai was centered at the trading city of Gao on the Niger River

Songhai reached its height under Askia Muhammad – Songhai’s golden age C. Empire of Songhai Songhai reached its height under Askia Muhammad – Songhai’s golden age

C. Empire of Songhai Askia was Songhai’s first Muslim ruler – his hajj to Mecca resulted in increased trade and wealth

C. Empire of Songhai The empire declined due to internal fighting and was defeated by Morocco in 1591

D. Other West African States Other societies developed east and south of the major empires

Hausa City-States Lived east of Songhai; never united as an empire Economy based on farming, manufacturing, trade Slaves became a major export Skilled weavers - their dark blue cloth was in high demand in West Africa

Yoruba Kingdoms Peoples who lived in same area and spoke related languages Yoruba established several strong kingdoms Widely admired for their artistic skills

Kingdom of Benin Lived in the forests of the Niger delta; became a powerful state by the 1000s Mid-1400s, Ewuare raised a powerful army and expanded kingdom Benin sold prisoners as slaves to the Portuguese Also became known for their arts

Kingdom of Benin