Medieval African Empires

Great Zimbabwe Economy based on international trade and cattle Left huge, well-crafted stone ruins

Stealing History Europeans claimed African ruins must have been built by early white peoples ▫They didn’t think native Africans were capable of building permanent structures ▫ Gave Europeans a right to the land White explorers destroyed African artifacts and ruins, preventing accurate knowledge of history

Ghana West Africa s Economy based on gold mining and taxing trade routes Political system = monarchy

Silent Trade Designed to keep location of gold mines secret To keep gold prices high, only kings were allowed to own gold nuggets

Mali Same area as Ghana 1230-late 1300s Rulers were Islamic African kings Founded by Sundiata

Mali cont. Built Islamic universities and libraries in Timbuktu Traded gold and salt Mansa Musa, king, went on hajj and brought Mali to the outside world ▫Caused inflation in Egypt ▫Made Europeans aware of African gold

Songhai West Africa, Empire but developed bureaucracy under Askia Muhammad Became wealthy from trans-Saharan trade