1. Kingdoms and Trading States of Africa
Essential Question: Why were the kingdoms of West Africa so successful?

2. Geography and Climates of Africa
Africa is the world’s second largest land mass.
Diverse geography including savannas, deserts, rainforests, and plateaus.

3. Geography and Climates of Africa

4. The Bantu Migrations
Caused by desertification, the land became dry and the desert spread.
Bantu people mixed and populated Sub- Saharan Africa.
Africa under the Sahara desert.
Spread farming techniques, language, and iron technology.

5. North Africa
Major population centers, connected to trade across the Mediterranean.
In the 600s, Arab armies carried Islam to North Africa.
Arabic became the primary language.

6. Kingdoms of West Africa

7. West African Trade Kingdoms
Gold from West Africa was traded for the salt of North Africa
Camels brought from Asia revolutionized trade across the Sahara.

8. The Kingdoms of West Africa
Kingdom of Ghana
Controlled gold-salt trade routes and collected tolls on all goods
Islamic invaders from North Africa eventually overwhelmed Ghana

9. The Kingdoms of West Africa
Kingdom of Mali
Mansas, or kings, expanded their influence over trade the gold-salt trade.
The greatest ruler of Mali, Mansa Musa, who came to power in the early 14th century, pushed Mali’s borders westward and northward.

10. The Kingdoms of West Africa
Mansa Musa based his rule on Islam
Completed the hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.
Gave away tons of gold upon his journey.
Turned Timbuktu into an Islamic center of learning as well as a thriving trade city.

11. Kingdoms of West Africa
Kingdom of Songhai
Sunni Ali forged the largest state that had ever existed in West Africa.
Islamic empire

12. Essential Question
Why were the kingdoms of West Africa so successful?

13. Assessment
What process encouraged the Bantu migrations throughout Africa?

14. Assessment
By the 7th century what was the prominent religion of North Africa?

15. Assessment
What were the most important trade goods of the Africa continent?

16. Assessment
Who was the West African king who completed the Hajj?

17. Mansa Musa Movie Poster
Create a poster for a movie about Mansa Musa’s hajj.
Must include:
A title
A cast of characters
A tagline or slogan
The images that are drawn must represent either Mansa Musa or the hajj.