African Civilizations

On your map, mark the Sahara Desert

On your map, mark the Niger River

The civilizations that flourished in ancient West Africa were all based on trade, so successful West African leaders tended to be peace makers rather than warriors. Caravans from North Africa crossed the Sahara beginning in the seventh century of the Common Era. Gold from West Africa was exchanged for something the West Africans prized even more: salt. Salt was used as a flavoring, a food preservative, and for retaining body moisture.

The first of these empires was the empire of Ghana, which from the 9th to the 13th century controlled the trans-Saharan caravan routes.

The Mali Empire was a powerful trading state from about A. D The Mali Empire was a powerful trading state from about A.D. 1200 to 1400.

Mali reached its height of power and wealth during the 14th century, extending over almost all of West Africa and controlling virtually all of the rich trans-Saharan gold trade. It was during this period that Mali's great cities, Timbuktu and Djenne, became fabled centers of wealth, learning, and culture.

Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

Through involvement in the gold trade that swept through Africa and reached all the way to Europe, Mansa Musa led Mali to great riches. The region's prosperity was nothing new, but based on Egyptian records, Mansa Musa's display and distribution of the wealth was unprecedented. In 1324, the great Mansa Musa set out on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Decked out in his finest clothes, he passed through Cairo with 500 slaves, each of whom carried a six-pound staff of gold. Backing them up were 100 camels, carrying in sum over 30,000 more pounds of the precious metal. The African gold trade was indeed a lucrative one, as shown by this gold from Ghana. Surely this was a sight to behold, and the accounts left behind say that the show got even better. While cruising through Cairo, Mansa Musa reportedly handed out gifts of gold to bystanders. He entertained the crowds and made a lucky few suddenly rich.

Songhai Empire (ca. 1350-1600) The Songhai Empire was the largest and last of the three major pre-colonial empires to emerge in West Africa.

Islam first came to Africa with Muslim refugees fleeing persecution in the Arab peninsula. This was followed by a military invasion, some seven years after the death of the prophet Mohammed in 639, under the command of the Muslim Arab General, Amr ibn al-Asi. It quickly spread West from Alexandria in North Africa

Mali's power didn't last much longer Mali's power didn't last much longer. In the 15th century it fell to the Songhai, who had established their own capital at Gao. The Songhai held supreme until the end of the 16th century, their empire collapsed under both internal and external pressures. The end of the Songhai empire also marked the conclusion of the region’s history as a trading centre, for the trans-Saharan trade routes quickly lost their vitality after the establishment of sea routes by Europeans. Songhai Empire (ca. 1350-1600)

The Europeans started trading with the Africans during the age of exploration. The Africans no longer had to travel across the Sahara Desert to trade. The Europeans came to the by boat.