1. Kingdoms of West Africa
11.2

2. Trade in the Sahara
As Sahara dried out and became desert populations migrated to the Savanna
Savanna proved perfect for farming
Eventually those populations that moved had surplus of food
That surplus would be traded using Islamic caravans all across Africa
Salt and Gold were equal in value
Salt, preserved food and was important to health
Gold, wanted for its value
Soon large kingdoms would form to control Salt and gold Trade

3. Ghana: “The Land of Gold”
1st kingdom to control Salt and Gold trade in Africa
Kingdom made money by taxing all goods that entered and exited their trade markets
2 major towns made up capital city of Kumbi Saleh
For the king and the super wealthy
Islamic merchants (caravan owners)
The kingdom’s structure was heavily influenced by Islam
Written language, math and government system

4. The Land of Gold 1 oz of gold $1,216.04 (Sunday 4/5/15)
32,000 oz in 1 ton
8 tons of gold a year pulled from Ghana
Pulled from years (1,100 years)
8*32,000=256,000oz
256,000*1,216.04= $311,306,240 a year
311,306,240*1100= $342,436,864,000 total

5. The Kingdom of Mali Established in 1235 after a war with Ghana Kingdom
Takes over Ghana Kingdom and expands west into the salt and gold mines
Mansa Musa- Ruler of Mali Kingdom
Expands Kingdom to its largest size
Converts to Islam but allows religious freedom in Kingdom
Richest man EVER!!
Valued education
Built a university in Timbuktu
Paid scholars from different subject areas to move to and teach in Mali

6. A New Empire in Songhai
After internal fighting in the Mali Kingdom a large piece breaks away, called the Songhai Kingdom.
Soldier king Sonni Ali fights for new territory and expands the kingdom into the largest in West African history.
After Ali’s death an Islamic government takes control
Because it is more efficient the kingdom continues to grow
The kingdom continues to grow with trade through the middle east
Slow decline, rival city-states start to conquer and break away small pieces of the Kingdom