West African Empires and Civilizations

1
West African Empires and Civilizations

• Chapter 15
• Section 2

2
Setting the Stage

• There were three powerful empires growing in
  Western Africa
• Located in the Sahel (the savanna region just
  south of the Sahara)
• Grew through the control of trade

3
Ghana Land of Gold

• By AD 200, trade across the Sahara had existed
  for centuries
• Was infrequent and irregular due to harsh desert
  conditions
• Used donkeys, oxen, and horses (couldnt survive
  in harsh conditions w/out rest and water)
• Started using camels
• Could travel 60 miles a day and go 10 days w/out
  water
• Trade increased with the introduction of the camel

4
Soninke

• Trade routes crossed the savanna through the
  region farmed by the Soninke
• They called their ruler ghana, or war chief
• Muslim traders used the word to refer to the
  region
• By the 700s they were becoming rich by taxing
  the goods traveling through their land

5
Gold-Salt Trade

• Gold and Salt were the 2 most important trade
  items
• Until about 1350, 2/3 of the worlds gold supply
  came from Ghana
• The Sahara contained salt deposits
• Taghaza, a village in the Sahara made their homes
  out of salt blocks because it was the only
  material available

6
Gold-Salt Trade

• Arab and Berber traders brought salt to the
  market towns
• African traders brought gold from their lands
• Traded goods at the market
• Tax collector watched over all transactions
• Royal officials made sure all goods were weighed
  fairly and business was conducted according to
  the law

7
Empire of Ghana

• Gold nuggets and slabs of salt collected as taxes
• Only the king could own gold nuggets
• This limited the price of gold and kept it from
  falling
• Ghanas leader acted as a religious leader, chief
  judge, and military commander
• By 800 it had become an empire
• Used his force to demand payments from
  surrounding tribes
• As long as they made their payments, he left them
  in peace

8
Islamic Influences

• Islam spread through trade instead of conquest
• Muslim merchants and teachers settled here and
  spread their faith
• Ghanas leader eventually converted to Islam
• Many retained their original religion and many
  who converted still kept parts of their religion
• Islams growth encouraged literacy
• With studying the Quran people learned how to
  read and write

9
Empire of Mali

• By 1235, the kingdom of Mali had emerged
• Wealth was built on gold
• People began to act independently of Ghana as it
  weakened
• They discovered new gold deposits which allowed
  them to seize power from Ghana

10
Sundiata Conquers an Empire

• Malis first great leader
• Became Malis mansa (emperor)
• Took over the kingdom of Ghana and many trading
  cities
• Had administrators control finances, defense, and
  foreign affairs
• Capital was Niani
• Promoted agriculture and reestablished the
  gold-salt trade
• Empire called Mali (where the king lives)

11
Mansa Musa Expands Mali

• Sundiata died in 1255
• Malis next rulers became Muslim
• Mansa Musa was the next great leader
• Skilled military leader
• Expanded the empire twice the size of Ghana
• He divided his empire into provinces and
  appointed governors to control his lands

12
Travels of Ibn Battuta

• Traveler and historian
• He was impressed with how the people of Mali
  studied the Quran
• He also praised the justice system for being fair
  and just
• He left in 1353 and within 50 years, Mali
  weakened
• The successors of Mansa Musa lacked the ability
  to govern well
• The gold trade shifted as new gold mines were
  discovered

13
The Empire of Songhai

• As Mali weakened, the people began to break away
• The Songhai broke off in the east and took
  control of trade routes
• Built their capital at Gao

14
Sunni Ali, a Conquering Hero

• Built a vast empire by military conquest
• Began in 1464 and lasted for 30 years
• Built a professional army with war canoes and
  cavalry

15
Askia Muhammad Governs Well

• Sunni Ali died in 1492 and his son succeeded him
• A group of Muslims revolted almost immediately
• Askia was the leader, a devout Muslim
• Replaced Alis son

16
Askia Muhammad

• Reined for 35 years with excellent success
• Set up an efficient tax system
• Had administrators of the treasury, army, navy,
  and agriculture
• Despite wealth, they lacked modern weapons
• A Moroccan army invaded in 1591 with gunpowder
  and cannons
• They quickly defeated the Songhai

17
Other People of West Africa

• City-states were developing in other areas
• Some were influenced by Muslim traditions and
  others kept their traditional African beliefs

18
Hausa City-States Compete

• Named after their language
• Were ruled by the Songhai but they gained
  independence
• Local rulers built walled cities with 50,000 or
  more people
• They ruled farming villages outside the walled
  city
• Depended on crops and salt, cotton, and grain
  trade
• Grew due to location on trade routes

19
Hausa City-States

• Zazzau conducted trade in enslaved people
• Raided cities and sold the captured people
• Traded them for horses, guns, and harnesses
• Rulers had great power, but there were
  administrators to check their power
• Each had its own cavalry
• Constant fighting from city-state to city-state
  prevented an empire from ever forming

20
Yoruba Kings and Artists

• City-states that all spoke the same language
• Over time they joined together under strong
  rulers
• Lead to the creation of several small kingdoms
• Kings were considered divine and were the
  religious and political rulers of their kingdom
• Trace descent from first ruler of Ife

21
Ife and Oyo

• Largest Yoruba kingdoms
• Large urban areas with fertile soil and ample
  rainfall
• Gifted artisans who carved wood and ivory
• Terra Cotta sculptors and cast in bronze, brass
  and copper

22
Kingdom of Benin

• Formed in the 1300s
• Built homes in the forest
• Ruler or oba traced descent from first king of
  Ife as well
• Ewuare made Benin into a major West African state
• Built a powerful army and built a wall around the
  city

23
The Portuguese

• 1480s Portuguese ships landed in Benins port of
  Gwatto
• Traded for pepper, leopard skins, ivory, and
  enslaved persons
• This began European interference in Africa
• Enslaved many African people and seized territory
  for colonies