1. Section Two: Government and Religion
Medieval Africa
Section Two: Government and Religion

2. Gov’t and Society: Ruler and Subjects Key Facts
Kings settled arguments
Managed trade
Protected arguments
Expected obedience in return
Growth caused new forms
Central authority was key
Rulers and people benefited
Merchants received favors
Kings received taxes
Local rulers got some power = kings received loyalty
Kingdoms grew richer and area extended

3. Government Ghana’s Government Mali’s Government Songhai’s Government
jigsaw

4. Government Ghana’s Government Ghana’s pyramid of power
Kings relied on help from a council of ministers (advisers)
Empire divided into provinces
Governed by lesser kings
District chiefs oversaw smaller districts
Each district included a chief’s clan
. Maintaining power
Local rulers sent sons to the royal court
They sought reports of injustice/rebellion
Controlled trade
Had to have king’s permission
Only king owned gold nuggets
Kingdom went to king’s nephew
Mali’s Government
Songhai’s Government

5. Government Ghana’s Government Mali’s Government 1. Dividing power
Mali was much bigger than Ghana
Fishing, forests, farming and money all by different officials
Generals were in charge of the provinces
2. Mansa Musa
Rewarded citizens with gold, land and horses
Granted heroes rewards
Sew clothes
Songhai’s Government

6. Government Ghana’s Government Mali’s Government Songhai’s Government
Built on traditions of Ghana and Mali
Never fully implemented as Sunni Ali was fighting
New leader focused on his religion to guide government

7. Gov’t and Society: Religion Key Facts
Traditional African Religions (traditional African religions shared certain beliefs and provided a guide for living together)
Background
One creator/ supreme god
Understood Christianity and Muslim idea of one god
Wanted to continue their own practice
Purpose
Provided rules for living
Helped people stay in touch with history
Believed that spirits stayed with the community

8. Religion
Mali
Songhai
East

9. Religion Mali Mali and Mansa Musa Allowed different religions
Worked to make Islam stronger
Built mosques
Libraries provided information from Muslim world
Long journey to Makkah (Mecca)
Thousands of people
Convinced people from Islam to travel back to Mali
Helped spread Islam
Songhai
East

10. Religion Mali Songhai Songhai and Askia Muhammad Sunni Ali
Practiced the traditional religion of Songhai people
Declared himself Muslim to keep support
Askai Muhammad
Largest empire in medieval West Africa
Kept local courts but used Muslim laws
Timbuktu became a center of Islamic culture
East

11. Religion Mali Songhai East Swahili People of the coast Demonstrates
Unique culture of East Africa
And the language spoken there
Blend of African and Muslim influences

12. Islam’s effect
What are three things that Islam influenced throughout the African kingdoms?

13. Islam in Africa (Islam played an important role in medieval Africa, but long-help African beliefs and customs still remained strong.)
D. Islam’s Impact on Africa
Islamic laws and ideas about right and wrong
Advanced learning
Arabic Language
Art and buildings (mosques)

14. Islam’s effect
Laws
Art
architecture

15. government
How did having a central authority rest with a single person benefit:
King
Individuals
The kingdom?
How is the model of government reflected in modern government?

16. government
How did having a central authority rest with a single person benefit:
King- Individuals- pay grants favors to subjects taxes to the king are loyal
The kingdom- loyalty and a balance system
How is the model of government reflected in modern government?

17. Activity on government
Pick ONE option:
Poster
Draw a poster that shows the arrangement of Ghana’s government
Included kings to clans
Report
Write a paper/paragraph that explains the arrangement of Ghana’s government from kings to clans
Kings- advisors- lesser kings- district chiefs- clans
**Answer the following questions on BOTH:
Why did the African people change their systems of power/government?
How did Islam change Africa’s society?