1. West African Kingdoms

2. I. West African Kingdoms
A. Ghana AD
1. Did not mine gold or salt
2. The first of the gold/salt trading
empires of West Africa

3. 4. Declined when they were attacked
3. Taxed gold, salt, and other goods
that passed through its kingdom
and became very rich due
to its location (between the Sahara,
the main source of salt, and the
gold fields of the Senegal River to the
south.
4. Declined when they were attacked
by North African desert people (conflict).
5. Polytheistic religion – belief in
many gods.

4. Located in an area of gold mines
B. Mali 1200 – 1325 AD
Located in an area of gold mines
on the upper Niger River
2. Expanded the gold/salt trade as a
result of their newly acquired
kingdom (Ghana).
3. Mali located on more fertile lands than Ghana. Rice, Millet, Yams, and beans provided an abundant food supply.

5. 4. Mansa Musa became the richest
leader in Africa. His wealth came from
taxes (gold/salt) as well as from tribute.
Very generous ruler – gave away gold
5. Musa takes a pilgrimage to Mecca &
brings back Muslim scholars. He turns
Timbuktu into a center of Muslim
learning (becomes the heart of Islam
in Africa).
Timbuktu

6. 6. Mansa Musa would turn his efforts
to converting the people of Mali to the
teachings of Islam at Timbuktu.
7. The decline of Mali came w/the
death of Mansa Musa. The Royal
family competed with one another
for power. This weakened Mali.
Next comes

7. Took over the gold/salt trade w/
C. Songhai 1450 – 1591 AD
Took over the gold/salt trade w/
the fall of Mali
“always conqueror, never conquered.”
2. Founder Sunni Ali (fearless
warrior) captured the city of
Timbuktu from Mali in 1464.
He later expanded the kingdom
by adding Ghana and other lands.

8. 3. Askia Muhammad would take over
after Sunni Ali & would become
the most important leader in their
history.
4. Like Mansa Musa he was a follower
of Islam & he would also take a trip
to Mecca and bring back more
scholars.

9. 5. This would expand Timbuktu’s
popularity as an Islamic learning
center. By the 1500s the city would
have three universities.
6. Fell to invaders from Morocco who
fought w/guns and cannons (the
latest weapons at that time).
(Technology and Conflict)
This officially ended more than years of West African empires.