1. Bell Ringer KINGDOMS OF THE SAVANNAH KINGDOMS OF THE FOREST
What skill did the Bantu people spread during their migration through Africa?– Remember to Restate!
KINGDOMS OF THE SAVANNAH
KINGDOMS OF THE FOREST

2. Kingdoms of the Savanna
GHANA : first West African kingdom to be based on the wealth of the salt and gold trade.
Salt and gold were the basis of West African trade
People from the forest region sold gold in exchange for salt
Ghana controlled trade routes through the Sahara because it’s location was ideal – MAJOR trading kingdom
Invaders caused Ghana to break apart into small, independent
states.
Why was salt so valuable to people in the forest region?

3. Kingdoms of the Savanna
MALI: a rich kingdom of the West African savanna
United by Sundiata, took over trade in West Africa after the fall of Ghana
Niger River was another important trade route
In return for the riches kings made, they kept peace and order (protecting caravans on the trade routes)
MANSA MUSA: a king of Mali in the 1300’s – made Islam the official religion of West Africa
Made Mali a center of learning – religion, mathematics, medicine and law

4. Kingdoms of the Savanna
SONGHAI: became the leading kingdom of the West African savanna during the 1400’s
Controlled trade routes and sources of salt and gold
Power grew when it conquered the rich trading city, Tombouctou
Power weakened when the people began to fight among themselves – fell to Morocco of North Africa

5. Kingdoms of the Forest
ILE-IFE: The capital of a kingdom of the West African rain forest.
Located in the present-day nation of Nigeria
Major cultural and trading center (“The place where the world was created”)
Historians know very little about the people who lived there because the region is thickly forested and damp – rain and dampness washed away many artifacts.
Sculptures are the most important artifacts to survive

6. Kingdoms of the Forest
BENIN: a kingdom of the West African rain forest.
Workers in the region mined copper, iron, and gold.
Leaders (obas) also sold slaves to African traders
Reached greatest strength by the 1500’s – ruled trade routes along the rivers and became immensely rich
Was a center of art – many beautiful objects made from bronze, brass, ivory, and copper

7. Activity Time!
Working in your groups, read through Chapter 11, Section 2: Kingdoms of West Africa and complete the guided notes worksheet provided
Volume level 2 MAX
Stay focused on the task, popcorn read within your group
This is CLASSWORK – not to be completed as HOMEWORK