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Converging Cultures

Converging Cultures. African Cultures: Chapter 1, Section 3. West Africa. Between 400-1500, three great empires rose and fell in West Africa Ghana, Mali, Songhai Prospered by trading in gold and salt Land bordered by Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Sahara

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Converging Cultures

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  1. Converging Cultures African Cultures: Chapter 1, Section 3

  2. West Africa • Between 400-1500, three great empires rose and fell in West Africa • Ghana, Mali, Songhai • Prospered by trading in gold and salt • Land bordered by Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Sahara • Niger River– important for migration and trade

  3. Islam and West African Civilizations • Early 600s, began winning converts outside of Arabia • By 711, had spread across North Africa • Won wide acceptance • By 900s, nomadic people controlling trade caravans had become Muslim • Carried Islam to West Africa

  4. Gold Trade • Prospered primarily because of gold trade • Muslim conquest increased demand for gold • 800-900s– Muslim states started using gold coins • 1200s– European trade revived the gold trade • By 1300s– 2/3 of gold in Europe and North Africa was from West Africa

  5. Ghana • Earliest empire • AD 400s • Between Senegal and the Sahara • Known as the Soninke • Grew wealthy from gold and salt trade • Allowed mosques to be built • Collapsed by early 1200s

  6. Ghana Empire

  7. Mali • East of Ghana • Upper Niger Valley • Known as Malinke • Conquered the Soninke • By 1300s– Had spread east past Timbuktu and west to Atlantic Ocean • Reached its peak in mid 1300s under Mansa Musa and Mansa Sulayman Mansa Musa

  8. Mali Empire

  9. Songhai • Along the middle Niger, east of Mali • Sorko people • Canoes; fished for a living • Controlled river and traded • Sonni Ali • Askiya Muhammad Sonni Ali Askiya Muhammad

  10. Songhai Empire

  11. Forest Kingdoms of Guinea • Guinea– West Africa’s southern coast • Smaller states and kingdoms • Ife Kingdom (Yoruba people) • Benin Kingdom (Edo people) • Mid- 1400s– Oba Ewuare built vast empire • Began trading enslaved people to Portugeuese Benin Empire

  12. Central and Southern Africa • Dense rainforests • Movement of people and goods difficult • Fishing, wheat farming, livestock • Some groups hunters/gatherers • Complex family structures • Matrilineal • Women responsible for children and cooking, but also took part in trade • Often farmed while men hunted • Chiefs usually male, but son of chief’s oldest sister succeeded him

  13. Kongo Kingdom • Originated around 1400s • Group of prosperous villages along the Zaire River • Good farmland– allowed surpluses • By 1500s, king ruled from Atlantic to Kwango River

  14. Slavery • Most slaves had been captured in war • Some were convicted criminals • Before Arabs and Europeans started buying slaves, they were typically ransomed back or absorbed • Could sometimes purchase their freedom or marry into captor’s family • Changed with the arrival of Islam • Why? • Gold trade also changed slavery • Portuguese, 1420s • Sugar production also lead to increased slavery

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