West African Trade Empires

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West African Trade Empires

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Ghana

• 400CE 1200CE
• A crossroads of trade
• Trade routes reached across the Sahara to N.
  Africa, down the Niger River, and to the rain
  forests of the Congo Basin
• All trade routes went through Ghana

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Early trade

• West Africans wanted salt to preserve food and to
  help bodies
• Berbers wanted gold to sell in Europe
• Ghana collected high taxes from each to trade

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Trade in Ghana

• Ghana had iron weapons
• Ghana had a huge army
• People had a strong demand for the trade items

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Ghanas government

• Monarchy
• King had close group of advisors, called council
  of elders or ministers
• Kingdom divided into districts, governed by
  district chiefs
• Power went to nephew, son of kings sister

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Religion

• Traditional beliefs
• Supreme god with lesser gods
• Ancestor worship
• Family was the center of society
• People lived in extended families (many
  generations together).
• Matrilineal Traced family line through mothers
  instead of fathers.

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Griots

• Storytellers
• No school, Griots responsible for passing stories
  on from generation to the next
• Stories included lessons for living
• Anansi the Spider was popular

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Fall of Ghana

• New gold mines discovered outside of Ghanas
  control
• Farming failed in Ghana
• Fighting with Northern tribes weakened Ghana

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Rise of Mali

• 1200CE-1450CE
• Sundiata Keita (sun-dee-AH-tuh KY-tuh)
• Lion Prince, took control of Ghana, then lands
  from Atlantic coast to Timbuktu
• Gained control of gold-mining areas

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Malis government

• Monarchy
• Like Ghana, but larger
• Land divided into provinces
• Generals in charge of provinces
• Power went to kings son (Patrilineal)

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Religion

• Sundiata was a Muslim.
• Allowed traditional beliefs to continue.
• Matrilineal Traced family line through mothers
  instead of fathers.

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Mansa Musa Discussion

• Sundiatas grandson.
• Muslim, wanted to visit Mecca, why?
• Five Pillars (pilgrimage)
• Wanted to put Timbuktu on the map.

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Mansa Musa

• Made Mali a great center of education, trade, and
  art.
• Made journey to Makkah (Mecca) in 1324 to show
  power and wealth of Mali.
• 8000 slaves, 100 camels, 24,000 lbs of gold
  (spent so much gold, weakened its worth in
  Egypt).
• Convince Muslim leaders to return with him,
  helped to spread Islam in W.Africa.

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Fall of Mali

• Death of Mansa Musa
• Kings that followed unable to lead and stop
  Berber invasions
• Controlled by northern Berbers for a time

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Rise of Songhai

• 1000CE-1600CE
• Also spelled Songhay
• Sunni Ali (also Sonni) stormed Timbuktu and
  forced Berbers out
• Used Niger River to conquer river tribes and
  extended west to take salt mines
• Built large empire

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Songhais government

• Monarchy
• Like Ghana and Mali, but larger
• Muslim kings followed Sunni Ali led by Askia
  Muhammad (pushed Sunni Alis family out)
• Provinces ruled by local courts based on Islamic
  ideals

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Religion

• Leaders were Muslims
• Most people followed traditional belief Witch
  doctors, ancestor/spirit worship, and magic

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Fall of Songhai

• Small army from Morocco crossed Sahara and
  defeated Songhai
• Army had gunpowder, guns, and cannons Songhai
  did not

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West African Empires
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Review

• 3 Great Trade empires
• What order? With Time periods
• Geography (Look at maps and review)
• Main Trade Goods?
• Government
• Centralized, kings, districts and local leaders

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Review

• Religion?
• Islam
• Local Beliefs
• Professions?
• Nobles/District leaders
• Artisans/Griots
• Priests
• Traders

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Review

• Achievements
• Islam
• Salt Trade
• Universities
• Mosques
• Camel use
• Downfall?