1. Ch 5 – Islam Reaches West Africa
EQ’s –
How AND why did Islam reach West Africa?
2. How did the introduction of Islam AND Arabic change West Africa?

2. Africa
West Africa

3. Q1: West Africa’s Vegetation Zones
West Africa has 3 main types of Vegetation Zones
Vegetation Zone = region, or area, that has certain types of plants

4. Rainforests
Rainforests have dense vegetation (plants) and heavy rainfall
Home to several animals: panthers, snakes, many types of birds, and monkeys

5. Desert Vegetation zone of North Africa is mostly desert
Desert known as Sahara
One of the most famous deserts in the world, because of the trade routes that pass through the Sahara

6. Savannah Grasslands that contain a variety of animals
Little vegetation because it only rains a few times a year
Many animals: Lions, zebras, Hippos, gazelles, and Cheetahs

7. Africa
West Africa

8. Q2: Niger River River runs across West Africa
Niger River was key route for transportation
Niger River also important to communication and trade
Helps produce good soil for farm lands

9. Niger River

10. Q3: West African Cities
Population growth and trade lead to formation of West African kingdoms including Ghana (1st ), Mali (2nd), and Songhai (3rd)
West Africans traded gold and slaves with North Africa for salt

11. FYI: Ghana Controls Trade
Ghana’s location (between North and Southwest Africa) allowed it to control all Trans-Saharan trade/gold-salt trade routes
All traders passing through paid HEAVY taxes
These taxes made Ghana rich.

13. FYI: Families in West African
Powerful empires controlled West Africa, but rulers did not greatly affect average people
Most people felt greater sense of loyalty to village and family
Most farmed or herded animals for a living, some worked in trade

14. Q4: Oral Tradition
For centuries West Africa had no written language or written histories
Recorded their culture using oral tradition
Storytellers, known as griots, memorized important village histories and cultural values and shared them through stories and songs

15. Q5: Trans-Saharan Trade
W. Africa had gold but wanted salt
N. Africa had salt but wanted gold
As a result, the Trans-Saharan
trade developed
Trans-Saharan Trade = Trade across
the Sahara Desert
Trade included salt, gold, slaves,
food/crops, cloth, spices, and more
Trade across the desert was VERY difficult, camel caravans helped to increase trans-Saharan trade

16. FYI: Important Trading Items
Gold and Salt most important trading items
North Africans wanted gold
Valuable
Pretty/Decorative
Could trade for other goods
Southwestern Africans wanted salt
Important for diet
Kept food from spoiling
Liked the taste

17. The Sahara Desert: Largest Sand Desert in the World!

18. Q6: The Berbers Most traders of gold and salt across Sahara
Berbers established trade routes in Trans-Saharan trade to get to West Africa
Berbers introduced written language of Arabic, and Islam to West Africa

19. West
Africa
---->
Middle
East
<
(Where Islam started)

20. Q7: Introduction of Islam
Some kept their traditional religious beliefs while others decided to convert to Islam
Many kings of Ghana and “upper class” converted to Islam, and looked to the Qur’an in creating new laws for West Africa +

21. Q8: Arabic Changes West Africa
Used Arabic language in governments
Many West Africans began to learn to read and write Arabic so they could study the Qur’an
Many West African Muslims were able to get jobs within the government because they were now able to read and write (increased literacy) +

22. Q9: Timbuktu
Timbuktu was center for culture, trade, and Islamic scholarship
Timbuktu’s development as a cultural center started an interest in learning and inspired by the spread of the Arabic language
Religious scholars taught history, theology and law in Timbuktu
Attracted best poets and artists in Africa and S.W. Asia