1. Act. 2.2 The Empires of West Africa
First Ghana…then Mali…then Songhai.

2. The West Africans lived as hunter-gatherers
The West Africans lived as hunter-gatherers. The Nok discovered iron technology, which allowed Africans to produce larger food supplies, build large permanent villages, and create powerful armies.

3. West African kings used their armies to conquer villages and establish kingdoms. The kingdom of Ghana gained control of the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade. North African traders introduced Islam to West Africa.

4. The kingdom of Mali takes over Ghana’s trade.
Mansa Musa created a large empire incorporating Muslim influences.
He went on a pilgrimage to Mecca and put Mali “on the map”.

5. Songhai built an empire larger than Mali’s
Songhai built an empire larger than Mali’s. Leaders of Songhai are unable to maintain unity within their empire. The Sultan of Morocco uses muskets to defeat Songhai’s warriors.