1. The examples of Ghana and Mali to disprove stereotypes of Africa
West African Kingdoms
The examples of Ghana and Mali to disprove stereotypes of Africa

2. European view of Africa and Africans in 1700’s
Africa was uncivilized place
It has only little villages and primitive cultures and little technology
This was all Africans were capable of because Africans were inferior (less equal) to white Europeans
They weren’t as smart or clever as “real” people

3. Reality
Africa had many villages, but also had cities and even big empires

4. Reality
One aspect of stereotype was true: there was less technology in 1700s Africa than there was in Europe
Why?
The “Guns, Germs, and Steel” Thesis: Africa’s climate was far harder to survive in than Europe’s
More disease, less easy farming land, etc. meant more time just trying to survive vs. less time to devote to advancing technology.
Not a huge deal in the ’s when Europe was still in Middle Ages and not learning much, but when Renaissance starts, Europe leaps ahead technologically

5. Ancient Ghana = African cleverness
Scenario: You are a leader of a town and wish to become powerful.
You have a good army, but not so strong that you could take over huge areas of land.
You lack any significant resources.
To the Northwest are Muslim traders who have the incredibly valuable resource of salt.
To the South are African villages who have the incredibly valuable resource of gold.
In your group, come up with a step by step plan to become richer and more powerful

6. What Ghana did.. Used their army to make their city very safe
Invited Muslim salt merchants and African gold traders to trade in Kingdom of Ghana
Since they spoke different languages-used “dumb barter”

7. Ancient Mali

8. Ancient Mali Mali broke away from Ghana in 1200
Sundiata expanded the Kingdom of Mali so it controlled the gold mines and the salt trade routes
Mansa Musa converted to Islam and founded the university at Timbuktu

9. City of Timbuktu 50,000- 100,000 people in 1300’s and 1400s
An African city at its height of preserving knowledge/ideas that were being lost in Europe at the time in Middle Ages Europe
Trade center linking N. Africa and W. Africa to Middle East.
Learning center- University at center of with 1/4 of the residents as scholars or students
City started to decline in 1600’s when became faster to sail around Africa than travel through desert

10. Just how rich and powerful was Mali at its height?
Mansa Musa- Mali’s king took a pilgrimage to Mecca in early 1300s
According to stories, brought 10,000 servants with him
Brought so much gold with him and spent so much that the price of gold crashed for 10 years since there was so much of it available