Ghana/Mali/ S onghai 500 AD-1600 AD

1. Tayler Finch Andre Connor Ghana/Mali/Songhai500 AD-1600 AD

2. Geography • The northern fringe, surrounded by the Mediterranean sea. • The sierra stretches from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. • Has grasslands and typical forests along the coast. • Has the largest dessert on earth. • The grassland mostly populated by animals.

3. Religion • They believed in only one god. • The “Yoruba” religion was practiced by many of the slaves transported to the Americans. • Used ritual to communicate with their god. • The rituals usually carried out by a special class of people who believed they had the power to foretell events, Usually working with super natural forces.

4. Religion Con. • The ceremonies were dedicated to ancestors because the ancestors were believed to be closer to the god. • Ghana/Mali/Songhai had the power to influence for the good or evil, the lives of their descendants.

5. Achievements • In the 14th century, 2 monumental buildings were constructed in Kilwa of coral cut from the cliffs along the shore. • Merchants in Mogadishu, Mombasa and kilwa grew very wealthy. • Members of kilwas wealthy elite built their houses near the palace and great mosque. • With imported Chinese porcelain and indoor plumbing these homes provided a luxurious lifestyle.

6. Achievements Con. • The Bantu- speaking people began to take part in the regional sea trade up and down the east African coast. • The growth in regional trade following the rise of Islam during the 7th and 8th centuries A.D., the eastern coast of Africa became a part of the trading network along the Indian Ocean.

7. Politics • West Africa’s Mali Empire, Musa amassed a jaw-dropping $400 billion during his reign from 1312 to 1337 • Mansa Musa gave away thousands of ingots of gold, and Egyptian traders took advantage of this by charging five times the normal price for their goods. The value of gold in Egypt decreased as much as 25 percent.

8. Politics • King Mansa Musa is famous for his Hajj journey, during which he stopped off in Egypt and gave out so much gold that the Egyptian economy was ruined for years to come. Richest man in history Empire Mansa Musa

9. Economics • Trades in gold, salt trade • Trading with people of other regions of Africa and later the Europeans. • Key products in Africa were gold and salt trades • Traders, farmers, blacksmiths, soldiers. • Copper was also a valued commodity in imperial Mali. Copper, traded in bars, was mined in the north and traded in the south for gold.

10. Economics • Traders, farmers, blacksmiths, soldiers. • Copper was also a valued commodity in imperial Mali. Copper, traded in bars, was mined in the north and traded in the south for gold.

11. Social Structures • They had three hereditary classes, royals, commoners and slaves. • To keep order and assure someone is doing the work, is the reason why these social structures existed. • The royals benefitted from the slaves and the commoners and slaves were harmed by killing and selling them.

12. Social Structures Con. • Royals ruled over everyone and slaves worked in fields for the commoners. Also slaves worked in the houses of the royals and commoners traded goods, which also gave royals money for the trades. • You also could change your social status by marrying a royal member.

13. Sources: • http://www.islamawareness.net/Africa/Mali/mali_article001.html • http://www.timemaps.com/civilization/African-kingdoms • http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/history/ancient_ghana.php • http://www.ushistory.org/civ/7a.asp • http://www.mrdowling.com/609-ghana.html • http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Ancient+Ghana