1. West African Empires and Civilizations

2. West Africa contained several powerful empires and states, including Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
These empires demonstrate the richness of African culture before European colonization.

3. Ghana: the Land of Gold
In 3rd c., Berber nomads began using the camel to cross the Sahara for trade
“Fleets of the desert”
Adapted to conditions in desert
Muslim use the word “ghana” or war chief to refer to the region
By the 700’s, rulers of the kingdom of Ghana grew rich from trade

5. Gold-Salt Trade Gold & salt were the 2 most important trade items
Gold came from the south of the Savanna between Niger & Senegal rivers
Until 1350, 2/3 of the world’s gold supply came from W. Africa
Villages from south lacked salt
Ghana traded gold for salt
Sahara contained deposits of salt
Ghana provided protection, taxed and weighed goods
Village: Taghaza built houses from salt blocks

6. Importance of Salt Preserve food Improve food’s taste
Needed to replace what their bodies lost in the hot climate

7. Land of Gold
By 800, king of Ghana rules an empire and taxes surrounding kings
Only king can own gold nuggets; this keeps prices high
King commands army, acts as chief judge and religious leader
Al Bakri, 11th c. Muslim traveler claimed Ghana’s army was 200,000 strong
Modern scholars believe it’s exaggerated

8. Islamic Influences Islam spreads thru trade south of Sahara
Introduced by Muslim merchants & teachers
Ghana’s rulers convert by 11th century
Population observed both animistic beliefs & Islam
1076 Muslim Almoravids of N. Africa conquered Ghana
Disrupts Gold/Salt trade
Fall of Ghana

9. Empire of Mali
By 1235, Ghana replaced by Mali—another kingdom based on gold trade
Mali becomes wealthy as the gold trade routes shift eastward
Mali: “where the king lives”

10. Sundiata Means “lion prince” & symbol for his clan
Born w/ disability, learned to walk by 7 yrs
Compared to G.Washington or FDR
One of 12 royal brothers who were heir to throne
All brothers murdered by rival leader
His army defeats rival in 1235
Becomes “mansa” or emperor
Reestablished gold-salt trade
Died in 1255

11. Mansa Musa Ruled from 1312-1332 Muslim
Skilled military leader w/ 100,000-man army
Empire 2x larger than Ghana’s
1324 went on hajj
Joined by 1000’s of servants & soldiers
Lavished others w/ gifts of gold
So much that it caused value to go down
Spanish mapmaker drew map at right. What conclusions would you draw if you were a Spanish merchant or traveler who saw the map shortly after it was created in 1375?

12. Timbuktu
Mansa Musa returns from hajj determined to make Timbuktu a center of Islamic learning & culture
Built mosques, attracted scholars, religious leaders, artists, doctors
Divided empire into provinces and appointed governors

13. Travels of Ibn Battuta Native of Tangier in N. Africa
Traveler (27 yrs.) and historian
Traveled throughout Muslim world
Compared to Marco Polo, but he traveled for knowledge
Reliable & valuable accounts for info of Muslim world
Praised empire of Mali for study of Qur’an
Impressed by Mali;s justice system- “They are seldom unjust..Their leader shows no mercy to anyone who is guilty of the least act of it. There is complete security in their country. Neither traveler not inhabitant in it has anything to fear from robbers.”

14. Decline
Mali declines in 1400’s as Mansa Musa’s successors lack the ability to govern well.
Gold trade shifts eastward as new goldfields develop

15. Empire of Songhai East of Mali
Built up army, extend army to large bend in Niger River
Gao is capital of empire

16. Sunni Ali, conquering hero
Built vast empire by military conquest
Professional army
War canoes
Forces on horseback
Captured Timbuktu & Djenne (cntr of trade in Mali)
Have control of Gold-Salt trade
Muslim

17. Askia Muhammad Governs Well
Drove out Sunni Ali’s son
Askia means “usurper”
Excellent administrator
Revived Timbuktu as a center of Muslim learning
Lacked modern weapons
1591 Moroccan fighting force w/ gunpowder & cannons invaded Songhai
-Defeat the Songhai warriors
Ends 1,000 yr. period of powerful empires in central West Africa

18. Other People of W. Africa
Hausa
Yoruba
Benin

19. Hausa City-States Compete
Group of people named after the language they spoke
Emerged b/n 1000 and 1200 in savanna, east of Mali (n. Nigeria)
Dependent on crops of farmers & on trade in salt, grain, cotton
Located on major trading route
One southern most state, Zazzau, vigorously traded enslaved people to other Hausa states
Sold to other N. or W. Africans in exchange for horses, harnesses, and guns
Kept slaves to build & repair city walls; grow food
Had own armies for control, but NEVER built a Hausa empire
CITY STATES instead because they could not get along with each other

20. Yoruba Kings & Artists
Spoke common language and lived in forest
Located in modern Benin & sw Nigeria
Farmers
Divine kings: religious & political leaders
Trace descent to 1st ruler of Ife (1st Yoruba state)
King of Ife was highest spiritual authority
Ife and Oyo were 2 largest kingdoms
-Large urban centers
-High walls surrounding city
-Farmers in countryside produced surplus food
-Traders & craftspeople in city
Ife produced gifted artists
Carved wood & ivory
Terra-cotta sculptures & cast in bronze, brass, copper
Rulers portrayed in realistic way
Yoruba head crowned with serpent, symbol of monarchy. Bronze, Nigeria.

21. Kingdom of Benin S. W. of Ife Homes in forest 1st kings from 1300’s
Oba (ruler) based right to rule on claims of descent from 1st king of Ife
Artists created brass & copper figurines
-Yoruba artists taught their techniques to Benin
Queen mother, woven crown called a “chicken’s beak”

22. Benin continued
Walls & columns of royal palace show legends, historical scenes, deeds of Benin rulers
1480’s Portuguese trading ships begin to sail into Benin’s port
Trade w/ Benin for pepper, leopard skins, ivory, & slaves
Portuguese traders. Brass plaque, middle Edo period (1575–1625), Palace of Benin Obas.

23. Write the letter that does not match the West African empire, state, or people.
1. Ghana
A. adopted Islam
B. grew rich by taxing the gold-salt trade
C. was overrun by the Muslim Almoravids
D. was the largest empire ever to exist in West Africa

24. 2. Mali
A. was an empire in the Sahara
B. was ruled by Sundiata and Mansa Musa
C. was visited by the traveler and historian, Ibn Batuta
D. grew rich by participating in the gold-salt trade

25. 3. Songhai
A. Controlled important gold salt trade routes
B. Was an empire built through military
C. Was ruled by Sunni Ali and Askia Muhammad
D. Was known for developing advanced weaponry

26. 4. Hausa people
A. Formed a savanna culture
B. Were located on important trade routes
C. Dominated the West African gold trade
D. Developed powerful independent city states

27. 5. Yoruba people
A. Were a forest civilization
B. Spoke a common language
C. Built the Ife and Oyo kingdoms
D. Lacked a centralized form of government

28. 6. Benin
A. Encouraged artistic efforts
B. Traded with the Portuguese
C. Was a savannah civilization
D. Was organized as a kingdom