Geography and Trade in Africa: Diversity, Resources, and Kingdoms

1. Africa

2. Geography • Geography: The Continent of Africa • After Asia, Africa is the second largest continent, covering 1/5 of the Earth’s land surface • Geography is varied, certain features had a major impact on its development

3. Climate Zones • Tropical rainforests cover less than 5% of the land (mostly on the equator) • Trees and roots make it unstable for farming • Savanna: Grassy plains, that stretch north and south of the forest zone • Largest and most populated climate zone • Generally has good soil and enough rainfall to support farming • Irregular patterns of rainfall cause long deadly droughts • Cattle herding is a common occupation

4. The Sahara Desert: In the northern part of Africa, it is the world’s largest desert • Size and harsh terrain limited movement • The Kalahari & the Namib are in the south • Smaller but equally forbidding • Mediterranean Coast of the North and South • Fertile farmland

5. Movement • Africa is surrounded by Oceans and Seas • Rivers → Zambezi, Congo, Niger, and Nile all serve as open highways • Despite some geographic barriers, people were able to migrate, both within Africa & to neighboring continents • Red Sea & Indian Ocean linked Africa to the Middle East • North Africa allowed for travel to Europe

6. Resources • Wealth of minerals has spurred trade in many regions • Salt, Iron, Gold & Copper • In the 1800’s, desire for Gold and Diamonds was once cause that led Europeans to seek control of territories in Africa • More recently, nations such as Nigeria and Angola have exported large quantities of oil

7. Camel Revolutionizes Trade • By 200AD, Camels had been brought to North Africa from Asia • Traders had earlier made attempts across the desert in horse drawn carriages • Camel caravans created new trade networks • Spread of Islam • In the 600s Arab armies carried Islam into North Africa • Islam replaced Christianity, which was the dominant religion of North Africa • Arabic replaced Latin as the language • North African traders carried Islam to West Africa

8. Kingdoms of West Africa • The West African Landscape • When the Sahara dried out, people migrated southward into Western Savanna • Farmers grew beans, melons, & a variety of cereal grains • By 100, settled farming villages were expanding along the Senegal & Niger rivers around Lake Chad • In time some villages grew into towns

9. Trading Patterns • Villages traded any surplus food they produced • Gradually, a trade network linked the Savannah to forest lands in the south • Then funneled goods across the Sahara to the Mediterranean and the Middle East • From West Africa caravans crossed the Sahara, carrying leather goods, Kola nuts, cotton cloth and slaves • Gold For Salt: Gold and Salt dominated the Sahara trade • Gold was plentiful in present day Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal • Salt, from West Africa, is an abundance in the Sahara • Needed to prevent dehydration, preserve food • Built homes from Salt Blocks

10. Trading Kingdoms of West Africa • Ghana • King was semi-divine figure • Dispensed justice, kept order, had a huge army of foot soldiers with Calvary • Women in Ghana had a high status & played an active role in the economic life of the empire • Some held positions in the government

11. Influence of Islam • Muslim merchants formed their own communities • Islam spread slowly at first • The King employed Muslims as counselors and officials • Muslims introduced their: • written language • Coinage • business methods • styles of architecture • City dwellers adopted Islam

12. Mali • Greatest Emperor was Mansa Musa • Came to the throne in 1312 • Expanded Mali’s borders westward to the Atlantic Ocean • For 25 years he worked to restore peace and order in his empire • Converted to Islam and based his system of justice on the Quran • Didn’t adopt all customs, women were not secluded to the home

13. The Emperor’s Hajj • Journeyed across the Sahara • Musa was accompanied by 500 slaves, each bringing a Gold staff • Had 100 camels decorated with gold • Finally got to Arabia, reaching Mecca and visited the Kaaba and prayed • Made long journey back across the Sahara to Mali • The Hajj had taken over a year

14. Results of the Hajj • Mansa Musa showed his devotion to Islam • Made new trading and diplomatic ties with Muslim states, such as, Egypt and Morocco • Returned home with scholars and artists • Newcomers introduced Arab styles in the palaces and Mosques of Mali • Word of Mali’s enormous wealth spread across the Muslim World • European rulers developed an interest in African Gold • Recently began using Gold coins

15. Songhai • In the 1400’s, civil wars weakened Mali • By 1450 a new West African Kingdom, Songhai had emerged • Sonni Ali used his powerful army to forge the largest state that had ever existed in West Africa • Did not adhere to practices of Islam • Followed traditional beliefs • Askia Muhammad became Emperor after Sonni’s death • Set up a Muslim dynasty

16. Further expanded the territory of Songhai and improved government • Set up a bureaucracy with separate departments for farming, army, & the treasury • The King appointed officials to supervise each department • Also made a pilgrimage to Mecca • Prospered until 1586, due to civil war • Ruler of Morocco sent his armies south to seize the West African Gold mines • Moroccans'’ were unable to rule an empire across the Sahara