1. Western African Civilizations: Ghana, Mali, & Songhai

2. Bantu Group of people who originally live in West Africa
Migrated in search of fertile land
Spread their knowledge of farming, ironworking, & LANGAUGE across the continent
Today almost 1/3 of Africans speak a language derived from the Bantu

3. Ghana The first of the West African trading kingdoms
Through weapon making technology (iron smelting), Ghanaian warriors expanded boundaries
Gained control over trade routes

4. Ghana Gold Salt Trade Location! Location! Location!
Ghana was located in the midway between Saharan salt mines and tropical gold mines
Caravans of Muslim merchants brought goods, which Ghanaian people exchanged for gold
Trade conducted via the silent trade
Muslims brought their religion to the people of Ghana

5. Mali Mansa Musa Devout Muslim king
Bases legal and justice system on the Qur’an
Makes hajj to Mecca, but stops in Egypt first
Gives Egypt so much gold that the value of gold declines for 10 straight years
Traveled with 12,000 servants each wearing silk & carrying gold bars, which were given to the poor

6. Mali Mansa Musa Brings back Islamic scholars and architects to Mali
Has Timbuktu built
Timbuktu
Center of learning and art
Increased Islamic influence in West Africa
Use of credit
Written contracts
Education for many classes

7. Timbuktu

8. Timbuktu

9. Ibn Battuta Moroccan born traveler and explorer
Travel the Islamic world from North Africa to China
Spent 30 years traveling
His primary source writings inform historians about the Muslim world in Africa

10. Songhai The largest of the 3 major West African kingdoms
Took control of Timbuktu
Expanded trade to Europe and Asia
Time of great cultural diffusion
Askia Muhammad sets up high functioning bureaucracy
5 provinces each with
A governor
Tax collector
Judges (Like Mansa Musa, had laws based on Qur’an)
Trade inspectors

13. The East African Kingdoms: The Shona of Great Zimbabwe & Axum

14. Axum (Aksum) Religions
Christianity made the official religion after shipwrecked Syrians introduced it
However…
Both Axumites & Egyptians viewed Jesus differently than Rome
Jesus was completely divine. Not human; 100% godly
Started a new Christian Church  THE COPTIC CHURCH

15. Axum Religions Muslim merchants brought trade and Islam
Christian and Muslim merchants fought over control of trade routes
In order to ensure Islam did not spread into Axum
Government reorganized to extend into outlying areas
Monasteries built to teach the Coptic Christian faith
Built churches
More churches per square mile in Ethiopia than any other country in the world today

16. Axum
Architecture
Used stone instead of mud bricks to construct buildings (unique for this part of the world)
Stelae  obelisk shaped pillars built to celebrate king’s conquests and Axum’s greatness

17. Axum

18. The Shona of Great Zimbabwe
Rise to Power
Originally derived wealth from herds of cattle
Then found gold in central part of kingdom
Location, Location, Location
Like Ghana located between trading posts, but on Indian Ocean
Evidence of trade with Syria, and Persia

19. The Shona of Great Zimbabwe
The Great Enclosure
Massive wall 4-stories high and 15 feet thick
Protected the king
Stonework so precise that no mortar was needed

22. The Shona of Great Zimbabwe
Cities
Consisted of two parts
Residences for the elite
Homes made of stone
Residences for the commoners
Homes made of mud and thatch

23. The Shona & Great Zimbabwe
Disappearance
Left the Great Enclosure for reasons unknown
Historians best guess…
Cattle overgrazed and the Shona need to find new land to feed it’s people