Physical Features Empires of west Africa

I.Ghana controls trade A. Gold to the south and salt from the Sahara made it rich by 800AD.

B. Ghana’s leaders taxed traders passing through the Kingdom on the Niger and Senegal Rivers 1. people wanted gold for its beauty and salt for their diets

II. Ghana defeated A. In 1074, Almoravids capture Koumbi Saleh and destroy trade

III. Empire of Mali ( ) A. Like Ghana, its location on the fertile upper Niger River made food plentiful

B. Sundiata begins an empire 1. fought to gain Mali’s independence 2. beans, cotton, rice were introduced to the empire 3. Mali took over gold, salt trade 4. unlike later leaders he was not Muslim

C. Religion 1.Malians believe their ancestors made an agreement w/spirits of the land who made sure the food grew

IV. Mansa Musa A.Mali’s famous Muslim king 1. hired artists & architects to build mosques 2. sent scholars to study in Morocco 3. stressed importance of reading and writing in Arabic 4. tolerant of other religions

V. Songhai empire A. Defeated Mali after Mansa Musa’s death B. Sunni Ali unified and enlarged empire 1. his son Sunni Baru was not Muslim and was overthrown a. people thought empire would lose trade and power C. Askia the Great led rebellion & defeated Sunni Baru 1. created specialized government offices & a permanent professional army

VI. Songhai Falls to Morocco A. Moroccans troops invade to gain control of salt mines 1. They were successful because of a new weapon: the arquebus an early form of a gun

VII. African Traditions A. griots were storytellers who passed down oral history 1.proverbs: short sayings of wisdom or truth 2. the Dausi and the Sundiata are “epics” or long poems that tell of kingdoms and heroes

B. Music and dance: entertainment and a way to celebrate history 1. traditions carried on at weddings & funerals

C. Clothing: 1. Kente cloth used for special occasions