Empires of West Africa

1. Empires of West Africa

2. What do you see in this picture? • These men are working together to do something. What do you think they are doing? • Why are they doing it?

3. Iron Technology’s Impact on West Africa

4. Before the Discovery of Iron • Most people were hunter-gatherers • Tools and weapons were made of bone and stone fixed to sticks

5. The Nok Use Iron Technology after 500 BC • Rocks were crushed into small pieces to extract the iron ore • Iron ore was melted in a furnace or over fire • Hammers were used to shape warm iron into tools or weapons

6. Iron Brings Revolutionary Changes • More efficient farming due to better tools • Larger meat supply due to better weapons • Permanent settlements • Job specialization = more trade goods

7. Early Trade Centers Develop • Jenne-jeno: used Niger River as highway for trade • Trade brought wealth to those who controlled West Africa cities • Wealth = powerful armies, powerful armies = invasion of neighbouring territories

8. The Kingdom of Gold Background: • Ghana 1st of 3 great West African trading empires • Countries of Mauritiania, Mali and Senegal – area known as the Western Sudan – are the modern-day sites of ancient kingdom of Ghana • Believe Ghana existed as early as 300 – most glorious period is between 8th and 11th centuries • Territory was actually called Koumbi and its people were the Soninke

9. Trans-Saharan Trade • N. Africans brought salt to trade for gold • Wangarans brought gold to trade for salt • Ghana exploited geographic location and military power to tax all traders • Ghana’s capital city, Koumbi, wealthiest city in West Africa from about AD 800-1050 – due to gold-salt trade

10. Indigenous Religion • Believed one god created world and lesser gods ruled over daily life • Believed disaster could be avoided by pleasing gods with prayer and ritual

11. Islam • Tolerance for Muslims, but Koumbi divided between Muslims and Soninke • Most government officials and merchants were Soninke converts • Despite policy of religious separation, many eventually converted to Islam – some spent huge amounts of money to build impressive mosques

12. Sources of Ghana’s Unity • King was absolute power – sole judge • Large, powerful army and nobles back king • Peasants contributed portion of harvest so city dwellers could focus on trade • Raised peanuts, honey, fruit (they dried) and vegetables

13. Sources of Ghana’s Strength (800-1500) • Iron weapons • Control of gold-salt trade • Mid-11th century Ghana is weakened by N. African Berber warriors who were strict Muslims. They weaken Ghana but don’t completely control it.

14. The Kingdom of Mali Under Mansa Musa • What do you see here? • What impression does this map give about life in West Africa during this time period? • After Ghana’s rule fell apart – Mali becomes the most powerful empire in West Africa • Empire of Mali rose in the 13th century • At its height, Mali’s territory was nearly twice the size of the empire of Ghana and encompassed the territory of present-day Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, and portions of Burkina Faso, Mauritiania, and Niger. People were known as the Mandinke or Malinke and originally lived in the state of Kangaba on the upper Niger River

15. The Fight for Control of Mali • The Mandinke, under the leadership of Sundiata, controlled Mali • Sumanguru, the leader of the Sossos, captured Koumbi over throwing its Soninke leader in 1203 – had 11 princes of the royal family murdered. Sundiata spared because he was considered too weak/unhealthy to be a threat. • Sundiata’s victory expanded Mandinke territory and began the Empire of Mali • By 1230 Sundiata is an expert horseman and hunter known for military skill. 1235 Sundiata defeats Dumanguru

16. Mali at its Height • Under Musa, Mali was twice the size of Ghana • Sundiata became king of Mali and ruled for 25 years until death in 1255. • Initial successors weak, but in 1307 his nephew, Mansa Musa, assumed throne • Mali remained powerful for nearly 200 years

17. Mansa Musa’s Pilgrimage (1325) • Brought thousands of people and camel-loads of gold with him • Very generous with his gold

18. Impact of Pilgrimage on Mali • Mapmakers include Mali on maps • Qur’anic schools and Muslim architecture built through Mali • Government officials read and wrote in Arabic • Territory divided into provinces ruled by mayors called dugu tigis

19. How the Songhai Empire Grew to Greatness Background: Timbuktu – center for trade, learning, and culture under Songhai rule Songhai was the last of the three great trading empires Songhai were originally fisherman and farmers on both sides of Niger At height in 15th century, larger and wealthier than the kingdoms of Mali and Ghana combined

20. Songhai Gains Independence from Mali • Songhai lived under Malian Empire rule for hundreds of years • Sunni Ali Ber helped Songhai gain independence from Mali in 1400s • 1435 he and his brother declare Gao's independence from Mali • 1464 starts systematically conquering Mali territories • Conquers Jenne & marries the Queen there in 1483

21. Empire under Askia Muhammad • Askia, a devout Muslim, rose to power by gaining support from those who opposed intolerant policies of Sunni Ali’s son in 1490s • Askia declared Islam the official Songhai religion and appointed Muslim judges • Askia’s conquests made the Songhai Empire larger than Mali or Ghana

22. Songhai Empire at Its Height • strong central government – ministers and market inspectors carry out king's orders • social system similar to caste system: • those w/ special privileges - Kukya • free people & soldiers • war captives & slaves; worked on farms • Songhai was the center of learning • Timbuktu's University of Sankore attracted scholar's from across the world

23. Final years and after Askia's Reign • By the time he was 90 he was blind • several of his 34 sons who were not to inherit throne conspire to exile him • Askia Musa – eldest son emerges as king in 1538 • 7 different leaders attempt and fail to control empire – instability largely due to appointed governors (often family members) • Falls to Morocco in the 1580s

24. The Conquest of Songhai by Morocco • Think about the different groups of people you see in this picture and consider the idea of power. • What do you see going on? Which group do you think might represent the Songhai? The Moroccans?

25. Al-Mansur: Sultan of Morrocco • Wanted to control source of both gold and salt • Commanded powerful army that was equipped with muskets

26. Moroccan Attack on Gao • In 1590, Judar Pasha was ordered to capture Gao with 4,000 musketeers • Songhai’s 118,000 warriors fought bravely, but the muskets of Moroccans were too powerful • Songhai surrendered to Morocco and offered to pay tribute of gold and slaves

27. Seizure of the Salt Mines at Taghaza • Al-Mansur’s musketeer seized the Taghaza mines • Songhai leaders forbade their people to trade there • Al-Mansur was furious and prepared his army for an attack on Gao

28. Effects of the Conquest on West Africa • Political unity kept by Ghana, Mali, and Songhai was destroyed • Salt-gold trade disrupted with lack of central control • Cultivated land fell to waste • Moroccan rulers remain in the area