African Kingdoms

Essential Understanding States and empires flourished in Africa during the medieval period, including: West Africa: Ghana, Mali, Songhai East Africa: Axum South Africa: Zimbabwe

East African Kingdoms Axum Nile River Valley Location: Near the Nile River Near the Ethiopian Highlands Christian Kingdom History: King Azana of Axum conquered Kush (Nubia); grew wealthy from controlling trade between Africa & the Red Sea (spices, carpets, dyes, gold, ivory…) Traded with Egypt, the Middle East and India. It was located next to the Red Sea. By the 4th century A.D., Axum was a world power.

East African Kingdoms Zimbabwe Location: Near Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers On the coast of the Indian Ocean. City of “Great Zimbabwe” is capital of this rich empire. Reached its peak of power in the 1400s; remnants destroyed by the Portuguese in the 1500s The city of Great Zimbabwe was an important trading center. Traders from Africa’s interior would pass through when bringing items to the Indian Ocean to trade, and vice versa. We know little about the people who lived there. Zambezi River Limpopo River

West African Kingdoms Ghana, Mali, & Songhai Location: Next to or on the Niger River. Near and part of the Sahara Desert Sahara Desert

Sahara Desert Ghana, Mali, Songhai Ethiopian Highlands Limpopo River

West African Kingdoms Ghana, Mali, & Songhai Mansa Musa Society A king of Mali Increased wealth by opening trade routes & exchanging gold for salt Pilgrimage to Mecca Society Usually Islamic, also believed in animal worship (animism) City of Timbuktu is a center of learning and trade. Grew rich taxing the salt & gold trade. Mansa Musa’s Pilgrimage to Mecca put so much gold into the economy of Cairo that gold lost most of its value for over 12 years.

West African Kingdoms Ghana, Mali, & Songhai Songhai broke away from Mali and replaced it as the most powerful kingdom in West Africa Askia Mohammad was the greatest ruler of Songhai Divided land into provinces Zealous Muslim Legal system based on the Qur’an Defeated by Moroccan troops in 1591

Timbuktu Capital of Mali Home of Mansa Musa A Muslim/Islamic City Muslims from all of West Africa came to the city to study at the universities.

Gold & Salt Trade Ghana, Mali & Songhai have lots of gold. They need salt to preserve food, add flavors, etc. North Africans (above Sahara) have salt, want gold to use as money. This means people cross the Sahara Desert to trade salt and gold.

Gold and Salt Trade

Review Which kingdom was located in South Africa? Which kingdom was located in East Africa? Which river was important to kingdoms in West Africa? Which city served as Mansa Musa’s capital? Which religion had a large impact on West Africa? Which body of water was important to trade in Zimbabwe? What items were often exchanged in West Africa? Which religion influenced Axum? What geographic feature was crossed by traders in West Africa? Who was the greatest leader from Songhai?