1. What were the major achievements of west Africans civilizations?
The Kingdom of Songhai
Cultural Diffusion
Monotheism
Trans-Saharan Trade
The Fall of Songhai
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2. Great trading kingdoms emerged
in West Africa.
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3. The Kingdom of Songhai
In 1464, the people of Songhai captured Timbuktu.
The people of Songhai seized control of the profitable Trans-Saharan trade.
The West African Kingdom of Songhai was the largest of the three trading kingdoms.
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4. The West African kingdom of Songhai was
the largest of the three trading kingdoms.
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5. Conversion to Islam The rulers of Songhai were Muslims.
Many West Africans had converted to Islam. They accepted the Five Pillars of Islam and became monotheists (believers in one God).
North Africans were Muslims. Through trade, cultural diffusion or cultural exchanges occurred.
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6. North African nomads were Muslims. Through trade, Islam
entered West Africa.
Trade increased
cultural diffusion or
the exchange of
cultural ideas and
objects.
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7. Trans-Saharan Trade
Like Ghana and Mali, the kingdom of Songhai controlled the profitable Trans-Saharan trade.
The Trans-Saharan trade connected North Africa and West Africa.
North African salt was exchanged for West African gold.
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8. North African nomads exchanged salt for West African gold.
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9. The Fall of Songhai
Eventually, the kingdom of Songhai fell to invading armies from Morocco in 1591.
The Moroccan armies had guns.
The Moroccans had acquired guns from Europeans.
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10. The Moroccans had acquired guns
from Europeans.
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11. The largest of the trading kingdoms,
the kingdom of Songhai, only lasted
100 years.
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12. Summary
Three great West African kingdoms controlled the Trans-Saharan trade routes.
While profiting greatly from the trade, the three kingdoms built beautiful cities and great centers of learning.
Trade between North Africa and West Africa increased cultural diffusion.
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13. The Trans-Saharan trade greatly increased cultural diffusion.
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14. Questions for Reflection:
How did the people of Songhai gain control of the Trans-Saharan trade routes?
What was the Trans-Saharan trade?
Why did the Trans-Saharan trade greatly increase cultural diffusion?
How did the introduction of Islam to West Africa affect the cultures of West Africa?
Why did the kingdom of Songhai collapse?
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