2. West African History
Ghana & Mali

3. The Kingdom of Ghana (500 AD – 1170 AD)

4. Rise of Ghana Ghana had a lot of gold and iron ore.
Ghana became the first far-reaching trade empire in West Africa
Ghana’s kings established and maintained their power through:
their vast wealth (gold),
personal relationship with subjects,
and large standing armies (iron).

5. Ghana’s Economy
Ghana traded gold with cultures in North Africa for salt
Salt was important because it:
Preserved food,
Essential to their diet,
And helped the taste of food.
Berber traders, then Muslim traders controlled the Saharan Trade.

6. Decline of Ghana
Spread of the Sahara Desert strained Ghana’s growing population
Urban populations became dependent on imported food
Muslim traders took primary control over the Saharan trade 
Ghana’s income from trade declined

7. Ghana’s Collapse
Food shortage and reduced income made the empire less stable.
Ghana territory came under increased influence of the spreading Islamic empire to the north.
The Mali leader Sundiata Keita defeats the remnants of the Ghana Empire around 1240 AD.

9. The Kingdom of Mali (1230 AD – 1600)

11. Rise of Mali Established by Sundiata Keita
Epic of Sundiata
Sundiata Keita adopts Islam as the official religion of Mali
Timbuktu becomes one of the world’s largest trading centers and the world’s most advanced centers of learning.

12. Eventually, Mali covered a territory larger than western Europe.
… and consisted of numerous vassal kingdoms and provinces in West and Central Africa.

13. Type 2 Writing
What caused the decline and collapse of the Ghana Empire?
GOOD NEWS! No more CDV or Take a Stand format. Just answer the question with at least 3 supporting details.