1. Exploration
What explorers have you learned about?
Where were they from?
Where did the explore?
Why did they explore?

2. Ghana, Mali & Songhai
African Empires

3. Was exploration only in North America?
Explorers were not only heading to North America, but others were making their way around another part of the world!

4. West Africa
Several empires were dominant in West Africa during the exploration period of the 1400s and 1500s. Ghana, Mali, and Songhai became powerful between the years 300 and 1600 and dominated West Africa at some point. They became powerful by controlling trade in that area of the world.

5. Explorers from Portugal
The rulers of Portugal wanted to find a faster trade route to the country of India.

6. Explorers from Portugal
They knew that ships could travel faster and carry more goods than any land caravan.

7. Explorers from Portugal
In their search for this water route, Portuguese ships traveled down the west coast of Africa.

8. Explorers from Portugal
The Portuguese explorers came in contact with 3 powerful West African empires: Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. They were the main group to trade with West Africans.

9. Mali
The capital city of Timbuktu became a center of learning for scholars throughout Africa.

10. These three empires were surrounded by salt and gold mines.
Ghana, Mali, Songhai
These three empires were surrounded by salt and gold mines.
Salt Pit
Gold

11. Ghana, Mali, Songhai
These three empires controlled the prosperous gold and salt trade in West Africa.

12. Salt
During the time of the explorers, salt was needed to flavor and preserve food.

13. Salt
Because there was no refrigeration, many foods like meats quickly spoiled.

14. Salt
Instead of trying to keep these foods cool, people covered them with salt.

15. This made salt very valuable!
The salt dried out the food and allowed it to be stored for a while before being eaten.

16. Salt
It was so valuable that other African kingdoms were willing to trade gold for salt. Salt was also used as money!

17. Trading Salt
The great empires of West Africa traded with European nations and other African kingdoms.

18. Trading Salt
The large supplies of gold and salt began to cause European countries like Portugal to become more and more interested in the coast of West Africa.

19. Trade
Portugal began to trade goods like iron, guns, gunpowder, knives, cloth and beads for gold dust and leather.

20. Trade
As time progressed Portuguese traders soon began to trade various valuables for African slaves.