West Africa Niger River at Koulikoro

Africa’s Geography Africa is the second-largest continent in the world. The African continent contains rain forests; savannas, which are tropical grasslands; and deserts. The Sahara is the largest non-polar desert in the world. The Niger River is the most important river in West Africa.

Africa’s Geography Questions: What is the Sahara? What is the Sahel? What is the Savanna?

African Trading Empires

The Gold-Salt Trade West Africa North Africa SALT GOLD

African Trading Empires (1000-1200) Ghana, the first large empire to rise from trading wealth, was located where trade routes came together. Ghana’s rulers required traders to pay a tax to pass through Ghana. Traders paid the taxes because Ghana made iron weapons and had a huge army. Also, the traders wanted the trade goods at almost any price.

African Trading Empires Ghana fell in the 1200s because of constant fighting between Ghana rulers and North African Muslims, the discovery of gold outside of Ghana’s control, and exhausted soil that was too poor for farming. Ghana was replaced by the kingdom of Mali. African griots, or storytellers, tell of a warrior-king named Sundiata Keita who seized Ghana and then won control of Timbuktu, a trading city.

Mali Empire [13c-15c] SALT GOLD

Timbuktu-”Heavenly Clay”

II. African Trading Empires (Mali) Mansa Musa was the last strong ruler of Mali. He died in 1337. The kings who followed him were unable to stop the Berbers from overrunning the kingdom.

Songhai Empire After the fall of Mali the Songhai Empire took its place. This Empire would still be around when Europeans started Sailing to the coast of Africa. The Empire was conquered by invading armies from the north (who had the advantage of Gunpowder)

Traditional African Religion ANIMISM 1. Belief in one remote Supreme Being. 2. A world of spirits (good & bad) in all things. 3. Ancestor veneration. 4. Belief in magic, charms, and superstition. 5. Diviner  mediator between the tribe and God.

Islam in Africa Islam was popular in West African cities where Africans traded with Muslim Arabs, but not all West Africans accepted Islam. Some Muslims complained that the West African leaders Sunni Ali and Sundiata Keita did not do enough to promote Islam. Mansa Musa had worked to spread Islam, though he allowed different religions. He made a pilgrimage to Mecca, with a caravan of thousands of people.

The Five Pillars of Islam The 5 pillars of Islam are what hold the Islamic religion together. 1 - Declaration of faith. 2 - Daily prayer. 3 - Giving charity to the poor. 4 - Fasting during Ramadan. 5 - Pilgrimage to Mecca.

Islam had a far-reaching impact on Africa. Islam in Africa Islam encouraged learning. Muslim schools taught Arabic. Islam also influenced art and architecture. Islam had a far-reaching impact on Africa. How did trans-Saharan trade change West African Culture?

Traditional African Religions (page 223)

Life in Medieval Africa (page 231) Africans often lived with extended families, or families made up of several generations. Many African villages were matrilineal, meaning the people traced their ancestors through their mothers rather than their fathers. Children were valued in African culture. They were considered the link between the past and the future. Some people believed ancestors could be reborn in children.

Slave Trade Slavery existed in Africa before the arrival of Europeans. Africans enslaved criminals and enemies captured in war. The slave trade grew as trade with Muslim merchants increased. Muslims were not allowed to enslave other Muslims, but they could enslave people of other faiths.

Slavery (pages 233–234)