2. Early African Civilizations
Empire of Ghana
Chapter 13, Section 2
World History

3. Today’s Learning Targets
I can use academic vocabulary of this region and time appropriately.
I can identify the physical and cultural features of this region.
I can describe the impact that trade had upon the civilization of Ghana.
I can trace the factors that led to the rise and fall of the Empire of Ghana.

4. Warm-up Questions
What is a good indicator of how important salt was to the people of West Africa?
They traded it for gold

5. Warm-up Questions What was the purpose of the “silent barter” system?
To keep things peaceful and locations of the gold mines secret
Who was the richest person in Ghana?
The king

6. Reading Check Questions
How did trade help Ghana develop?
As trade in gold and salt increased, Ghana’s rulers gained power, aiding the growth of their military, which in turn helped them take over others’ trade.
How did the rulers of Ghana control trade?
They taxed traders coming and leaving Ghana, and they used their armies to protect trade routes.

7. Reading Check Questions
Why did Ghana decline in the AD 1000s?
Invasion, overgrazing, and internal rebellion

8. Key Terms Covered A spoken record of past events Oral history
A West African storyteller
griots

9. Key Terms Covered
A process in which people exchange goods without contacting each other directly
silent barter
A short saying of wisdom or truth
proverbs

10. Key Terms Covered A hand-woven, brightly colored West African fabric
kente
The belief that bodies of water, animals, trees, and other natural objects have spirits
animism

11. Key Terms Covered
A long, deep valley formed by the movement of the earth’s crust
rifts
A family group that includes the father, mother, children, and close relatives
extended family

12. Key Terms Covered Africa south of the Sahara Sub-Saharan Africa
A semiarid region in Africa just south of the Sahara that separates the desert from wetter areas
Sahel

13. Key Terms Covered An open grassland with scattered trees savannah
A moist, densely wooded area that contains many different plants and animals
Rain forests

14. The Empire of Ghana Recall: Where was Ghana located?
West Africa – between the Niger and Senegal Rivers and between the Sahara Desert and the southern forests.

15. Empire of Ghana
Explain: How did early Soninke farmers create a strong state?
Banded together – used iron tools to produce more food – formed villages and towns.

16. Empire of Ghana Recall: How did Ghana’s rulers raise money?
Traders paid taxes – the people paid taxes – army conquered neighboring tribes who then paid tribute.

17. Empire of Ghana
Analyze: How did Ghana’s rulers acquire huge amounts of gold?
From taxes and banning others from owning gold.

18. Empire of Ghana
Evaluate: Do you think trade was safer when Ghana controlled it?
Yes - Army protected traders / No – traders had to carry more gold to pay taxes

19. Empire of Ghana
Recall: What group attacked Ghana in the 1060’s, and what effect did it have?
Almoravids greatly weakened Ghana’s trade empire

20. Empire of Ghana
Draw Conclusions: What was the significance of overgrazing?
Killed off the grass and mad the soil worthless for farming or herding.

21. Empire of Ghana
Make Judgments: Why do you think people rebelled in about 1200?
They were angry that they had been conquered by Ghana.

22. Today’s Learning Targets
I can use academic vocabulary of this region and time appropriately.
I can identify the physical and cultural features of this region.
I can describe the impact that trade had upon the civilization of Ghana.
I can trace the factors that led to the rise and fall of the Empire of Ghana.