Kingdoms of West Africa Gold & Salt - Farming villages settled down along the Senegal and Niger rivers Trade surplus goods and a vast network of trade developed across the Sahara ***Gold & Salt were the two major commodities traded Cities rose up and rulers sought to build kingdoms along these trade routes

Ghana Soninke people created Ghana located between the Niger and Senegal rivers Controlled the gold-salt trade route across West Africa The capital was two walled towns with palaces, buildings and courts King was considered semi divine (ceremonies, justice, order) Influenced by Muslim merchants – religion, government, military, technology, language, business, and architecture Conquered by the Almoravids

Mali Mandinka people united area after the collapse of Ghana Mansa Musa (mansas=king) – extended the territory and promoted peace and order – converted to Islam - followed the Quran - made the hajj to Mecca – made economic and political ties with other Muslim states – Timbuktu became a great trading city and center of learning

Songhai Mali collapsed after power struggle - Gao emerged as a new capital Sonni Ali – brought trade routes and cities like Timbuktu under his control Askia Muhammad - – created a Muslim dynasty – extended territory – established a bureaucracy – built schools/mosques – made the hajj to Mecca

Additional Kingdoms Hausa - clay-walled cities - commercial centers - trade Benin - trade across the savanna - experts in casting bronze and brass