1. How did the major empires of Africa rise and fall?
Essential Question
How did the major empires of Africa rise and fall?

2. Economics

3. Africa has:
Gold

4. Africa wants:
alt

5. Arabia has:
alt

6. Arabia wants:
Gold

7. Brain
Snack . . . .

8. Ponder
How much salt do you think it would take to equal the value of a pound of gold?

9. Salt, why salt? You need salt to live. We lose salt when we sweat.
It’s hot in Africa.
Therefore, they sweat and lose salt.
Without it, they die.

10. Well, now how much would you pay?
But wait, don’t’ answer yet, there’s more!

11. The Salt Trade
Africans were willing to trade 1 pound of gold for 1 pound of salt.
Arabians were willing to trade 1 pound of salt for 1 pound of gold.
Both sides were happy!

12. The Trade Routes

13. Excuse me, may I buy some cheap salt? Big Desert
I will trade my valuable salt for your “worthless” gold!
Gold

14. Government

15. Brain
Snack . . . .

16. Ponder
Look at the location of Ghana on the following map. Why do you think it was built there?

18. Ghana Ghana was a powerful trading empire in Africa.
Location between the gold and salt gave control over trade.
The Niger River Valley was also relatively good for farming.
But then…

19. Main Street (dividing line)
African Side
Muslim Side
Main Street (dividing line)

20. Mali

22. Mali The empire of Mali rose as Ghana was falling.
They largely accepted Islam as their religion instead of trying to hold to their old ways.
They did adapt it to fit their own traditions.

23. Mansa Musa Mali’s greatest leader A strong follower of Islam
Led a pilgrimage of 60,000 people to Mecca.
This made Mali famous throughout the world.

24. Brain
Snack . . . .

25. A dictator, assassinated by the Senators
Julius Caesar
A dictator, assassinated by the Senators
6 word memorials 25

26. Mansa Musa
6 word memorials 26

27. Things to Remember

28. Key Terms
Savanna
Salt Trade
Mansa Musa
Oral History

29. Main Ideas
1. The geography of the area around the Niger river greatly influenced the growth of Ghana and Mali.
2. Trade with the Islamic Empire led to great changes in Africa.
3. African history and culture was passed down largely through oral traditions.