1. Civilizations of Ancient Africa

2. Climate Zones Desert Sahara and Kalahari
Northern Africa and Southwestern Africa
Cover about 40% of Africa

3. Climate Zones Mild Zones Northern coast, tip of the Cape of Good Hope
Moderate rainfall, warm temperatures
Fertile land, supports high population

4. Climate Zones Rain forest Congo Basin 10% of Africa
Heavy rain, high temperatures
Dense forests
Many disease carrying insects, including the tsetse fly, which can infect people and animals with sleeping sickness

5. Climate Zones
Savanna
Central Africa, Eastern Africa, part of the island of Madagascar
40% of Africa
Grasslands with small trees and shrubs
Unreliable amounts of rain

6. Islam Spread through Africa along trade routes
Popular monotheistic religion in Northern Africa
Popularity was supported by the widespread use of the Arabic language
The Koran (Muslim holy book) prohibited the enslavement of Muslims by other Muslims; religion became a protection against the slave trade

7. History of the Region Griot- west African storyteller
These empires relied on storytelling and oral traditions to pass on information
Written records of these empires comes from outsiders writing about them

8. GHANA: 300 to 1100CE Location Language Leaders Western Africa
Modern day Mauritania, Senegal, Mali
Along the Niger River
South of the Sahara Desert
Savanna Grasslands
Language
Mande
Arabic brought by traders
Leaders
The name of the empire comes from the title “Ghana” which means warrior king in Mande

9. GHANA Resources Miscellaneous Decline Cloth/textiles Gold Salt Slaves
Trade routes
The location was its most valuable resource
Miscellaneous
First accounts of Ghana are recorded by the Arab traders
Islam became the dominant religion
Decline
Attacked by the Almoravids
Battles between the Almoravids and Ghana continued for 14 years
Trade routes were unsafe due to fighting
Environment was destroyed due to introduction of non-indigenous animals that overgrazed
Rebellions rooted in political discontent and starvation made it easy to conquer
GHANA

10. MALI: 1235-1600CE Location Language Leaders Western Africa
Modern day Mali, Niger, Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea, Gambia
Along the Niger River which allowed them to control river trade
Language
Mande
Arabic
Leaders
Sundaita Keita
Led Mali to defeat their rivals, the Sossos
Conquered Ghana
Mansa Musa
Famously undertook a hajj
Hajj= pilgrimage/ religious trip to Mecca
Was incredibly wealthy
Supported education and scholarship
MALI: CE

11. MALI Religion Resources Decline
Many of the upper class and merchants had converted to Islam
Many people practiced a version of Islam that combined beliefs with the local traditions and beliefs
Resources
Gold
Salt
Timbuktu
Major trade city
Center of education and learning
Decline
The empire became less powerful with the death of Mansa Musa and his descendants could not maintain the large empire
Conquered by the Songhai
MALI

12. SONGHAI: 1461-1591 Location Language Leaders
South of the Sahara Desert
Along the Niger River
1,000 miles stretch from modern day Niger to the Atlantic Ocean; including the modern day Mali
Language
Arabic
Supported by trade with Muslims from the Middle East and the growing population of Muslim West Africans
Leaders
Sunni Ali
Prince of the Songhai who had been held as a political prisoner by the Mali
Escaped to Gao, which became the capital city
Led invasions of important trading cities, like Timbuktu and Djenne
Askia Muhammad
Founded the Askia dynasty
Devout Muslim
Took control of gold and salt mines from the Mali
Government
Divided the empire into 5 provinces
All his advisors and administrators were Muslim

13. Songhai Resources Decline Slave trade Gold Salt
Weakened due to internal strife and civil war
1591- Moroccan army invaded and captured Timbuktu and Gao
Entire empire collapsed