1. Niger River What does it provide? –Water, food, transportation The four regions we just talked about all surround the Niger The Niger’s middle section is an area of lakes and marshes called an inland delta –Many animals live here

2. Trade Began using camels to carry heavy loads through desert, expands trade Take salt from Sahara south to trade for gold Take gold and copper to the north to trade in Europe/Islamic World Places where people gathered for trade become towns, like Timbuktu

3. Leaders: Mansa Musa He helped spread Islam by –Sending scholars abroad to study, setting up schools in Timbuktu –Making Arabic the main language for religion, government and trade –Hiring architects to build mosques throughout the empire

4. Leaders: Askia the Great Askia was a devoted Muslim and he helped spread Islam He also made a pilgrimage to Mecca like Mansa Musa (Mali’s great king) Education flourished under his rule Many schools and mosques were built Pilgrimage to Mecca

5. Griots Griots were West African storytellers They were highly respected Their job was to remember and pass on their people’s history They had to remember hundreds of names and events