SSWH6.B
Step 1 Merchants gain wealth, and the wealth turns into power Step 2 The richest and most powerful men need the trans-Saharan trade to continue. Step 3 For the trade to grow, the merchants need political stability and safety.
Step 4 Kings begin as men who have enough power to guarantee this kind of safety and stability. Step 5 Governments start to regulate and tax the trade routes Step 6 The riches from the trade routes and taxes resulted in very rich and powerful kings.
Ghana ( ) Mali (1235 – 1599) Songhai (1464 – 1591)
A farming people know as the Soninke ruled by kings who were called the Gana. Two classes: Farmers – lower class that did most of the work Merchants – upper class with most of the wealth These two classes did not interact
The leaders of Ghana lost the ability to keep the trade of the empire safe by When their power of the trade routes was gone, they also lost control of their people. By 1240 the empire of Ghana was gone.
The title of the ruler of Mali was “Mansa.” Sundiata was the first Mansa of Mali. His name translated is “lion king.” The Mansas used the cultural and religious beliefs of their people to gain more power. 1.Exploit natural resources and laborers 2.Control the trade routes for salt, gold, and slaves 3.Convert to Islam to gain the favor of Arab merchants and expand their trade networks
The Mansa’s political plan had three parts: Exploit the agricultural resources of the Malinke (the Malian people). Control the sale of gold, salt, and slaves. Covert to Islam in order to gain favor in the eyes of Arad traders. This would help to expand the trade and the boarders of the empire.
The most famous example of the wealth of Mali is the hajj (a Muslim’s pilgrimage to Mecca) of Mansa Musa. His caravan included 100 camels just to carry the gold.
In 1546 the armies of Songhai attacked the weakened Malian Empire. The Songhai Empire was formed by the descendents of fishermen along the Niger River. Wealth and power grew quickly. Empire fell to the King of Morocco in 1591.