Exploration What explorers have you learned about? Where were they from? Where did the explore? Why did they explore?

Ghana, Mali & Songhai African Empires

Was exploration only in North America? Explorers were not only heading to North America, but others were making their way around another part of the world!

West Africa Several empires were dominant in West Africa during the exploration period of the 1400s and 1500s. Ghana, Mali, and Songhai became powerful between the years 300 and 1600 and dominated West Africa at some point. They became powerful by controlling trade in that area of the world.

Explorers from Portugal The rulers of Portugal wanted to find a faster trade route to the country of India.

Explorers from Portugal They knew that ships could travel faster and carry more goods than any land caravan.

Explorers from Portugal In their search for this water route, Portuguese ships traveled down the west coast of Africa.

Explorers from Portugal The Portuguese explorers came in contact with 3 powerful West African empires: Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. They were the main group to trade with West Africans.

Mali The capital city of Timbuktu became a center of learning for scholars throughout Africa.

These three empires were surrounded by salt and gold mines. Ghana, Mali, Songhai These three empires were surrounded by salt and gold mines. Salt Pit Gold

Ghana, Mali, Songhai These three empires controlled the prosperous gold and salt trade in West Africa.

Salt During the time of the explorers, salt was needed to flavor and preserve food.

Salt Because there was no refrigeration, many foods like meats quickly spoiled.

Salt Instead of trying to keep these foods cool, people covered them with salt.

This made salt very valuable! The salt dried out the food and allowed it to be stored for a while before being eaten.

Salt It was so valuable that other African kingdoms were willing to trade gold for salt. Salt was also used as money!

Trading Salt The great empires of West Africa traded with European nations and other African kingdoms.

Trading Salt The large supplies of gold and salt began to cause European countries like Portugal to become more and more interested in the coast of West Africa.

Trade Portugal began to trade goods like iron, guns, gunpowder, knives, cloth and beads for gold dust and leather.

Trade As time progressed Portuguese traders soon began to trade various valuables for African slaves.