1. The Growth of Trade
Chapter 14

2. Trading Empires of Western Africa
The Soninke lived in present day Mali
They were early farmers on the banks of the Niger River
The became a trading center because of their location (Sahara Desert to the North, Rainforest to the South)
The Soninke received salt from the North and gold from the Wangara from South

3. Ghana
The wealth and power of Soninkes led to the creation of the Ghanan Empire
Ghana had iron weapons which helped them defeat other groups who had only stone and wood weapons
The Ghanaian kings increased the empires wealth by collecting taxes on goods entering and leaving the empire
The kings of Ghana held a monopoly of all the gold found in the kingdom

4. The Growth of Islam
Muslim traders began to travel and trade through northern and western Africa
The infusion of Muslim culture changed the lives of people living in western Africa
Money replaced barter
The Arabic language and the religion of Islam was brought to the people of western Africa

5. Mali and Mansa Musa The Malinkes found Mali
Acquired lands that were once part of the Ghana empire
Mali became wealthy from the trade of gold and salt (salt was used to preserve meat)
Mali’s greatest growth came under the rule of Mansa Musa
Musa encouraged Muslim scholars to come to Mali
Musa made a religious pilgrimage to Mecca
He paid for Mosques to be built in many cities along his journey
His hajj made Mali known throughout the known world

6. Songhai
The Songhai became rich by controlling trade routes across the Sahara Desert
A large army of soldiers protected the trade routes
Songhai became a center of learning
Books were created and sold throughout the city
They were conquered by Morocco who had guns from southwestern Asia

7. Trade in the Muslim Empire
The Muslim traders brought the Arabic language and Islamic religion to Western Africa
Muslim traders used the old Roman Roads
The camel was the main mode of transportation used throughout northern Africa
Desert travel was dangerous (storms, attacks, or becoming lost)
Ideas between the East and West were exchanged by traders
Muslim dinars were the currency used throughout the Mediterranean
Muslim cartographers made accurate maps to assist in trade
The Mongols conquered the Muslims and took over their trade routes

8. The Silk Road in Mongol Time
The Mongols opened up new trade opportunities
The Mongols made trade much safer
They issued passports granting permission to travel throughout the Empire
Italian city-states signed trade treaties with the Mongolians

9. European Sea Trade
Sea trade began to become an integral part of the Silk Road
The Byzantine Empire (under Justinian) established a trading city in Constantinople
The Byzantine navy used Greek fire to fight off groups who attacked their trade ships
The Byzantine Empire controlled the Mediterranean Sea for roughly 500 years
The Byzantine Empire tried to stop the Muslims traders from controlling the Mediterranean Sea
The Italian city-states began to gain power through trade
Eventually the Italian city-states take control of the Mediterranean Sea
Many Italian city-states along the coast were based on trade and ship building
They held a monopoly on Mediterranean trade for 200 years

10. The Hanseatic League
The Italian city-states lost their Monopoly of the Mediterranean Sea when the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople
Explorers began to look for new trade routes because overland trade became: To expensive, dangerous, time consuming, and was economically inferior to sea trade
European city-states began to create alliances with each other to protect their trade routes (Hanseatic League)
Eventually European countries begin exploring the Atlantic