1. Great trading kingdoms emerged
in West Africa.

2. The West African kingdoms controlled the salt for gold trade.

3. Control of the Trans-Saharan trade routes enriched the
West African kingdoms.

4. West African kingdom of Songhai captured Timbuktu,
In 1464, the ruler of the
West African kingdom of
Songhai captured Timbuktu,
the capital of Mali.

5. The West African kingdom of Songhai was
the largest of the three trading kingdoms.

6. The rulers of Songhai were
Muslims.

7. North African nomads
were Muslims.
Through trade, Islam
entered West Africa.
Trade increased
cultural diffusion or
the exchange of
cultural ideas and
objects.

8. North African nomads exchanged salt
And of course,
North African nomads exchanged salt
for West African gold.

9. Sunni Ali was Songhai’s greatest king. From 1464 – 1492, he
never lost a single battle.

10. His empire stretched nearly 1,800 miles and he established
a uniform system of weights
and measures.

11. But others wanted Songhai’s
riches and by 1590, an Arab ruler from Morocco
sent an army to conquer
Songhai.

12. Of course, the Moroccans had acquired
guns from Europeans.

13. The largest of the trading kingdoms,
the kingdom of Songhai, only lasted
100 years.

14. Yes, European guns would
forever change African
history.