Early Empires of West Africa 500 BC- AD 1650

The Big Idea… Three great trading empires shaped West African History.

Essential Questions: How did salt and gold contribute to the rise of the empire of Ghana? How did great leaders contribute to the rise and fall of Mali and Songhai? How has the history and culture of West Africa been preserved?

Which is worth more?

Empires of Northwest Africa grew wealthy trading salt for gold.

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi9bJhRZtKA

Ghana

As you read… Create a timeline… Your timeline should include at least five significant events that mark growth in the Ghana Empire Be sure to include at least one important person in your timeline.

Early Ghana Around 300 BC, early farmers (Soninke) banded together to fight off nomadic herders who threatened to take their land. These bands of farmers became the beginnings of the empire of Ghana.

Ghana grows… The people of Ghana learned how to work with iron. They made iron tools for farming. They also made iron weapons which were far superior to weapons made of bone or wood. Their ability to grow plenty of food and their strong army helped Ghana grow quickly.

Trade Ghana lay between the Sahara to the north and the forests to the south. This location made them a perfect location for trading the region's two most important resources---salt and gold By 800 AD, Ghana controlled most of West Africa’s trade routes. By 1050 AD, Koumbi Saleh (West Africa’s largest city) was a major trading center.

Silent Bartering Much of the trading was done through the process of silent bartering, a process in which people exchange goods without ever contacting each other directly.

Salt is mined in huge slabs.

Then traded for gold.

Taxes and Tributes Ghana’s rulers collected taxes from the traders for the goods they brought to market. People who lived in Ghana also had to pay taxes. When Ghana conquered neighboring tribes, they too had to pay tributes.

Ghana’s Wealth In addition to the taxes it collected, Ghana grew wealthy from the large amounts of gold it produced. All gold produced in Ghana was officially the property of the king, and he was the only one allowed to own gold nuggets. The common people could only own gold dust, which they used for money. This ensured that the king was always the wealthiest man in the empire!

Tunka Manin The most powerful of Ghana’s rulers was Tunka Manin. He ruled around 1068 AD and ruled a court that was the wealthiest Ghana had ever seen.

Ghana’s decline… Three major factors led to the decline of Ghana: The Almoravids attacked Ghana in 1060 and started a 14 year war which ended in the destruction of Koumbi Saleh and significantly weakened the empire. Herds of animal brought by the Almoravids overgrazed the land, leaving it useless for farming. Many farmers left for other lands. Around 1200, conquered tribes rebelled and within a few years had completely taken over Ghana.

Overgrazing

Your timeline What significant events did you include in your timeline? 300 BC 1200 AD

EQ Check In: How did salt and gold contribute to the rise of the empire of Ghana?

Mali and Songhai

Essential Question How did great leaders contribute to the rise and fall of Mali and Songhai?

As you read… Record details about the leaders of Mali and Songhai in a chart like this: Sundiata Mansa Musa Mahgan Sunni Ali Askia

Sundiata Sundiata and his army conquered Ghana in the 1230s, taking over salt and gold trade and improving agriculture. He introduced cotton as a crop which was used to make clothing.

Mansa Musa Mansa Musa was Mali’s most famous ruler. He was a Muslim who brought Mali to the height of its power and wealth in the 1300s. During his reign, Islam spread throughout West Africa. During his reign, Timbuktu became an important trading city. He encouraged education, including teaching his people to read Arabic.

Mansa Musa song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TWOIkEygWM

Maghan Maghan was Mansa Musa’s son who took the throne of Mali when Mansa Musa died. He was a weak ruler and was unable to defend Mali against invaders. In 1431, the Tuareg nomads seized Timbuktu, and by 1500 nearly all of the land owned by the Mali Empire was lost.

The Songhai The Songhai were former members of the Mali Empire. As Mali weakened in the 1400s, the people of Songhai rebelled and regained their freedom. Because of their Islamic beliefs, the Songhai were able to trade with the Berbers in the north and grow richer.

Sunni Ali Sunni Ali became a ruler in 1464 and led the expansion of the Songhai Empire. He unified, strengthened and enlarged the empire. He encouraged everyone to work together and promoted religious harmony by combining Muslim and local religious beliefs.

After Sunni Ali Sunni Ali died in 1492. His son, Sunni Baru, inherited the rule but was not a Muslim. The people were afraid that they would lose their trade with Muslim lands because he was not a Muslim, so they rebelled against the king.

Askia the Great The leader of the Songhai rebellion was Muhammad Ture, who later took the title of Askia (great military leader). Askia supported education and built a great university (Sankore) in Timbuktu. He continued to encourage the growth of Islam.

Askia the Great Askia divided Songhai into five provinces and appointed governors for each. He also created a professional army.

The Fall of Songhai In 1591, Morocco invaded Songhai to gain control of the salt mines there. Morocco’s army and weapons were superior to the Songhai, and Timbuktu was completely destroyed. Changes in trade routes completed the fall of the empire. Trading ports appeared on the Atlantic coast, which were much easier for European traders to reach.

EQ Check in: How did great leaders contribute to the rise and fall of Mali and Songhai? Which leaders helped build the empires? Which leaders weakened the empires?

Crash Course https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvnU0v6hcUo

Traditions of West Africa

Essential Question How has the history and culture of West Africa been preserved?

Storytelling Writing was never common among the early West African Empires. The only written language used by the Ghana, Mali, and Songhai was Arabic. Instead of writing their stories, the stories of West Africa have been preserved as oral histories.

The Griots Griots were storytellers of West Africa. Griots were highly respected in their communities. They told stories about their ancestors, important achievements, and other tales to explain things to their people. Griots were entertaining as well as educational. In addition to stories, the Griots recited proverbs (short sayings of wisdom or truth) and poems. They had to memorize hundreds of names and facts.

Anansi The most well-known tales from West Africa are the stories of Anansi. Anansi was a spider, and his character often demonstrated how the small or weak could accomplish great things.

Watch the video “A Story, A Story” As you watch, write down: What lessons (morals) do these stories teach? Why would they be important to pass down from generation to generation?

Plan a Fable… Next, you will plan your own fable. First write down the following information: Characters: (You need at least three characters) Problem: (Choose one of the events/rulers of the empires we have studied) Moral: (What lesson could be learned?) Choose a problem and lesson that has universal appeal (applies to all people in all places), similar to the examples you have seen today.

Masks and Clothing Many artists carved elaborate masks that resembled animals or important people. These masks were used to act out the Griot’s stories.

Kente Cloth Kente cloth is the best-known craft of West Africa. It is brightly colored cloth woven from narrow strips of fabric.

The Colors of Kente In Kente, each color represents the following: •    Blue – peace, togetherness, love and harmony •    Black – maturity, mourning, funeral and passing rites •    Gold/Yellow –richness, royalty, prosperity, wealth •    Green – land, vegetation, harvest, growth, and renewal •    Grey – Healing rituals; cleansing rituals; •    Pink – feminine; mildness and feminine qualities •    White – pureness, cleansing rites and festivals •    Maroon – mother earth and healing •    Red – death; funerals; mourning •    Purple – feminine; worn by girls and women •    Silver – peace and joy; referencing to the moon

Kente Patterns Kente patterns also have meaning. Forgiveness

Conflict/Diversity

Family/Hard Work

Progress/Growth/Energy

Experience/Knowledge

Design your Kente Next, you will choose a design and color your own Kente. Choose colors that you think represent you well and tell YOUR story!

EQ Check in: How has the history and culture of West Africa been preserved?