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Great Empires of West Africa

Chapter 1 Section 2. Great Empires of West Africa. Ghana. Ghana was nicknamed “The Kingdom of Gold” Ghana was the 1 st great empire of Sub-Saharan Africa Ghana became rich because of trade (salt and gold) and by taxing merchants. Ghana.

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Great Empires of West Africa

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  1. Chapter 1 Section 2 Great Empires of West Africa

  2. Ghana • Ghana was nicknamed “The Kingdom of Gold” • Ghana was the 1st great empire of Sub-Saharan Africa • Ghana became rich because of trade (salt and gold) and by taxing merchants

  3. Ghana • Ghana’s rulers conquered several neighboring kingdoms • The rulers of Ghana were famous for their luxurious lifestyle. • In the end, Ghana fell to invaders that sought their gold, salt, and trading posts.

  4. Mali • Mali came after Ghana as the most powerful empire in West Africa • Mali’s greatest ruler was Mansa Musa • Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim and went on a pilgrimage to Mecca

  5. Mali • Mansa Musa fostered learning throughout his empire • He built great universities for religion and law in the cities of Timbuktu and Djenne • Mansa Musa was well respected and loved by the people he ruled as well as by others

  6. Songhai • Songhai was originally a part of the Mali Empire for about 50 years • Eventually, the Songhai people took over and became the new ruling empire • Like Mali, Songhai also became wealthy through trade

  7. Songhai • Sunni Ali was a brilliant strategist and rose as the leader of the Songhai Empire • One of the first African rulers to equip his army with horses • He also created a Navy, using canoes to patrol the Niger River.

  8. Songhai • Philosophy, medicine, and law flourished in the Songhai Empire • Eventually, the Songhai Empire was defeated by invading Spaniards from Europe • In the 1400s, Portuguese explorers sailed south along the West Coast buying gold, ivory, pepper, cotton, and slaves

  9. Traditional West African Culture • Oral History is extremely important because there are no written records to tell us about the past. • Most people in West Africa lived in extended families • People were expected to remain loyal to their families and their age sets

  10. Traditional West African Culture • West African religious practices usually centered around ancestor worship and animism • Traditional art forms included music, dance, and mask making • Griots, or story tellers, helped preserve the oral history of West Africa while providing entertainment

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