1 / 8

Societies & Empires in West Africa

Societies & Empires in West Africa. Map of West Africa, c. 1575 (Venetian – Girolamo Ruscelli). Ghana Empire (750-1076). Introduction of camel allowed trans Sahara trade Gold-Salt Trade Gold from south of Sahara / Niger River (no salt) Salt abundant in Sahara

neo
Download Presentation

Societies & Empires in West Africa

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Societies & Empires in West Africa Map of West Africa, c. 1575 (Venetian – Girolamo Ruscelli)

  2. Ghana Empire (750-1076) • Introduction of camel allowed trans Sahara trade • Gold-Salt Trade • Gold from south of Sahara / Niger River (no salt) • Salt abundant in Sahara • Merchants met in cities for transactions • Control of trade routes meant wealth, power! • Ghana grew from taxing the merchants

  3. Ghana Empire • Height of Ghana Empire • King owned all gold and controlled supply to keep value high • Had officials observe trade, business to maintain fairness • Powerful army kept trade routes safe • Around 1000, Ghanese leaders convert to Islam • By 1076 Berbers from West Sahara conquer Ghana Ghana Empire

  4. Muslim States in North Africa Extent of Almoravid Dynasty • By 670, Muslims ruled Maghrib • Almoravid Dynasty started around 1000 • Almoravids were a family of Berbers from West Sahara • Conquered Ghana in 1076 • Conquered Spain – called Moors (remember Othello?)

  5. Empire of Mali (1235-1400) • Miners found gold further east, resulting in shifting trade routes • Shift of power to state of Mali • King Sundiata • Used military strength to conquer trade cities, creating empire • Delegated authority by putting good people in charge of trade, defense • Promoted agriculture and trade • Died 1255; next rulers convert to Islam

  6. Empire of Mali • King Mansa Musa (grand- nephew of Sundiata) • Skilled military leader who doubled size of Empire (incl. Timbuktu) • Divided empire into provinces with appointed governors • Large, powerful armies kept peace, safe trade • Built many mosques, to spread Islamic faith • Hajj story • Later leaders not as strong, and empire declined Mansa Musa, (holding gold nugget) Mansa, in Cairo

  7. Empires of Songhai (1400-1591) • New gold discoveries further east again shift trade routes • Songhai, near Niger River, controls new routes • King Sunni Ali • Strong military, with navy and cavalry, conquer large area • Created peace, prosperity • Timbuktu became major trade, cultural center • Dies 1492 – revolt against son Songhai Empire, one of the largest African empires in history (more land than all of Western Europe!)

  8. Empire of Songhai • Replaced with King Askia Muhammad (1493-1528) • Set up efficient bureaucracy, trade & tax system • Fervent Muslims • Built stronger military and agricultural system • Defeated 1591 by Moroccans using gunpowder weapons • Moroccans divided Songhai into many small kingdoms Askia Muhammad Ended 1000 years of empires in West Africa Mosque of Timbuktu

More Related