Songhai Empire 1464-1591 (at its height) Pgs. 34-35 in textbook Songhai Empire 1464-1591 (at its height) Location: West Africa Religion: Islam Famous city: Timbuktu, major trade center for gold and salt. Timbuktu was also a center for learning. Contributions/inventions/innovations: In the city of Timbuktu, the Songhai built an international university. Established gold and salt trade in west Africa. Famous leaders: Sonni Ali and Askia the Great http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/29493-assignment-discovery-history-of-timbuktu- video.htm 1
Mughal Empire 1556-1707 (at its height) Pgs. 32-33 in textbook Location: India Religion: Islam, but toleration for other religions Famous city: Agra Contributions/inventions/innovations: The Taj Mahal Famous leaders: Babur and Akbar Taj Mahal: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/video/Secrets-of-the-Taj-Mahal.html 2
Pgs. 32-33 in textbook Ottoman Empire 1453-1918 Location: Turkey and most land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Religion: Islam Famous city: Istanbul Contributions/inventio ns/innovations: Legal code, Islamic art and architecture. Exported coffee, ceramics, and textiles. Famous leaders: Suleiman the Magnificent http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/humanplanetexplorer/eu rope/turkey#p009j7pd 3
Pgs. 32-33 in textbook Safavid Empire 1502-1736 Location: Iran (ancient Persia) and other parts of central Asia. Religion: Islam (Shi’a) Famous city: Istafahan Contributions/inventions/ innovations: Leaders of the Safavid Empire were known as Shahs. Textiles (Persian carpet) Famous leaders: Abbas I http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/people-places- kids/iran-kids/ 4
Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 Famous leaders: Hong-wu Location: China Pgs. 32-33 in textbook Location: China Religion: Confucianism and some polytheism Famous city: Nanjing and Beijing Contributions/inventions/innovations: Great Wall was redesigned, the novel, porcelain, and dictionary. Famous leaders: Hong-wu http://www.history.com/videos/did-the-chinese-discover-america#did-the-chinese-discover-america 5
Pgs. 20-21 in textbook Maya Empire 300 c.e- 900 c.e Location: Yucatan Peninsula (parts of Mexico and Guatemala) Religion: polytheistic, sacrifices performed Famous city: Tikal and Chichen Itza (location of the famous ball court) Contributions/inventions/innovations: calendar, ball court, writing system based on hieroglyphics The Mayan Empire mysteriously disappeared. Could have been caused by a natural disaster, but historians are still not sure. http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/specials/ancient-mysteries/chichen-itza-temples/ 6
Aztec Empire 1325-1519 Location: Mexico Pgs. 20-21 in textbook Location: Mexico Religion: polytheistic, sacrifices performed Famous city: Tenochtitlan, built on an island in the center of Lake Texcoco (Mexico City is located on this spot today) Contributions/inventions/innovations: floating gardens, calendar The Aztec Empire was invaded by the Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortez in 1519. http://www.history.com/topics/aztecs/videos#the-aztecs http://www.history.com/topics/aztecs/videos#aztec-sacrifice 7
Pgs. 20-21 in textbook Inca Empire 1400-1535 Location: Andes Mountains of western South America Religion: polytheistic, sacrifices performed Famous city: Cuzco, Machu Picchu Contributions/inventions/innovations: Quipu (knotted system of keeping records), large road system, surgery, bridges. The Inca Empire was invaded by the Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro. http://www.history.com/topics/machu-picchu/videos/machu-picchu 8