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Kingdoms of the Grasslands – West African Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

Kingdoms of the Grasslands – West African Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. Chapter 8 (2 of 4). Need to Know: Ghana Mali Songhai. They are know as the Sudanic states. Islam Spreads Quickly Through North Africa. Islam spread mostly by merchants and travelers, not so much invaders.

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Kingdoms of the Grasslands – West African Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

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  1. Kingdoms of the Grasslands – West African Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai Chapter 8 (2 of 4)

  2. Need to Know: Ghana Mali Songhai They are know as the Sudanic states

  3. Islam Spreads Quickly Through North Africa Islam spread mostly by merchants and travelers, not so much invaders

  4. By 700s, States Formed Along Edge of Sahara Sahel – grassland (savanna) at south end of Sahara where these states formed

  5. West African grasslands we are discussing Advantages: Grew by being along trade route (gold traded from west Africa for salt or dates from Sahara) Used camels to trade in the desert Disadvantages: Suffered many droughts Located on plains, so open to invasion

  6. These states were led by a council of elders, and would get control over neighbor states and tax them to get more powerful A majority of populations never converted to Islam, just the rulers (shows that Islam blended with local cultures and traditions) West African or Sudanic States

  7. West African or Sudanic States • Resembled rest of north Africa, but distinctive local architecture • Towns were commercial – lots of trade and craftsmen • Large militaries to protect trade – encouraged merchants and scholars to come to places like Mali

  8. Ghana Grew into strong state by taxing gold and salt trade that occurred there 1st of the Sudanic states Ghana was attacked in 1076 and began declining By 900s, rulers had converted to Islam Attacked by Almoravids – Muslim reformers within the Berbers

  9. Mali Click map for video on Mali

  10. 2 Most Important Leaders of Mali Sundiata • Nicknamed the “Lion Prince” • Greatly expanded Mali • Overcame regional fighting to unite Mali as 1 powerful state • Created basic laws for Mali • Known as Mansa (emperor) • Created social arrangement – each clan had different responsibility (helped unite them) • Severely punished crime to protect trade and keep security • Mansa Musa • Mansa Musa led Mali 1312-1337 • Went on hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca giving away gold to show Mali’s wealth • Brought back Ishak al-Sahili, architect, built mosques and unique form of Mali architecture (out of beaten clay; ex = mosque of Jenne) • Mali’s contact with outside world brought change and innovation

  11. IbnButata Famed Arab traveler who recorded his journeys. Made trip through Africa and recorded African societies and cultures Made journey to Mali

  12. Farming in west African grassland kingdoms

  13. Ghana Mali Songhai

  14. Songhai • Located in Mali empire, as Mali crumbled, Songhai grew • Along gold trade route helped it grow • Rulers became Muslim, majority people didn’t • Gao = capital of Songhai, many mosques and foreign merchants living there

  15. Led Songhai (1464-1492) – used cavalry to expand Songhai into huge empire Persecuted all who opposed him (including fellow Muslims) Sunni Ali Askia = title given to rulers who followed Sunni Ali Set up bureaucracy to rule far flung areas of empire Captured Timbuktu and Jenne

  16. Muhammad the Great Expanded Songhai so by 1500s it dominated central Sudan

  17. Life in Songhai Similar to life in the previous states in the savanna (Ghana and Mali) Islam blended with local pagan beliefs – upset ulama (example = ulama upset women didn’t have to wear veils) The Fall of Songhai 1591 – Songhai defeated by Morocco (Songhai larger army, but Morocco had guns) Defeat set off internal revolts and Songhai broke apart

  18. Looking Back at Islam’s Impact on Sudanic (West African) States

  19. West African Traditions That Lived on After the Fall of Songhai Hausa people of northern Nigeria formed states after Songhay collapsed, blended Islam and pagan traditions Other states in the region continued to blended Islam and Paganism These states used large cavalries to protect trade (salt, grain, cloth) These states were relatively small, but continued culture of Ghana, Mali, Songhai

  20. Islam’s Affect on Slavery Muslims saw slavery as step to converting people to Islam Slavery existed prior to Islam coming, but as Muslims conquered Africa, slave trade grew on huge scale Slave trade lasted 700 years and is an example of Islam’s lasting impact on Africa Slaves used as servants, laborers, soldiers, administrators, eunuchs, and concubines (so wanted to enslave women and children)

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