1. West Africa Civilizations

2. Introduction
While the Almoravids and Almohads were in North Africa, other groups were forming empires in West Africa
They were Ghana, Male, and Songhai

3. Ghana Trade had existed along the edge of the Sahara for years
Most pack animals could not travel far – ox, donkeys, horses
Then came the camel – it could travel 60 miles in a day and go 10 days without water
This allowed for more trade route options

4. A group of people – the Soninke – called their ruler Ghana
When Muslim traders came along they became calling their region “Ghana” after their ruler
By the 700’s – Ghana was a kingdom
The 2 most important items that they traded were salt and gold
Until 1350 – 2/3 of the worlds gold supply came from Africa
By 800 it was an Empire
Next, Islam began spreading to Africa through trade

5. Eventually, Ghana's ruler converted
Much of the population never converted
In 1076, Muslims took over Ghana and it lost its power

6. Mali Emerged by 1235 Its wealth was built on gold
New sources for wealth were needed so they moved east
A new group of people emerged called the Mali
Their first ruler was Sundiata – he became the “mansa” or ruler
He died in 1255 and the next rulers were all Muslim

7. The most famous Muslim ruler was Mansa Musa
He ruled 1312 to 1332
Mansa Musa made a hajj to Mecca from 1324 to 1325
When he returned he ordered the building of mosques in Mali
He also established a major city – Timbuktu

8. Songhai Mali declined in the 1400s
The people began to break away and some of them were the Songhai
They moved even further east
They had 2 extraordinary rulers – Sunni Ali and Askia Mohammad
They captured Timbuktu
The Songhai empire lacked modern weapons

9. In 1304, the Arabs had guns which shot arrows
In 1591, the Moroccan fighting force fought the people of Songhai – they had sticks and the Moroccans had guns
The people of Songhai lost