1. Control of the gold-salt trade w/Arabs & Berbers
Place: Niger River
City: Kumbi Saleh
City: Timbuktu
City: Gao & Timbuktu
Economy:
Trans-Saharan trade
Charged tariffs
Control of the gold-salt trade w/Arabs & Berbers
Control of the gold-salt trade
Created new trade with Morocco & Egypt
Control of the gold-salt trade routes with N. Africa & Arabia
Imported books
Government: King=monarchy
Matrilineal society
Emperor
Justice based on the Qur’an
Soldier-king: Sonni Ali
Bureaucracy w/depts
Religious beliefs: Polytheistic Converted to Islam
Exchanged info & ideas with the Islamic Empire
Islam
Five Pillars – Hajj to Mecca
Used Arabic art
Traditional tribal religions
Converted to Islam
Pilgrimage to Mecca
Achievements:
Created the gold-salt trade routes across the Sahara
Mansa Musa created peace & safety;
Increased knowledge of Islam across Africa & world
Expanded borders of Mali
Built mosques & schools
Timbuktu center of learning
Largest kingdom-expanded
Decline: Due to war
Disputes over succession
Disputes over succession & war

2. West African Kingdoms 4 common features
West Africa along the Niger river
Led by single ruler
Control of the gold-salt trade made them wealthy
Followed the religion of Islam

3. Trans-Saharan trade
: exchange of goods across the desert (70 days)
The Sahara was a barren, arid desert difficult to cross but the Camel made the process much easier. Dromedary – one hump camel; Native to Arabia; Domesticated. Could travel 4-5 days w/out water & carry 400lbs
Camel caravans helped increase trade between N & W Africa
West Africa exchanged gold for salt, in equal amounts.

4. Trans-Saharan trade

5. Mansa Musa ansa M usa is a uslim from ali that moseyed to ecca!
Spread Islam across Africa
Created peace
and stability
ansa
usa is a
uslim from
ali that moseyed to
ecca!
In 1324 Mansa Musa made a pilgrimage ( a journey to a holy place) to Mecca, which is a holy city in Arabia, with 60,000 servants and followers and 80 camels carrying more than 4,000 pounds of gold to be distributed among the poor. Of the 12,000 servants 500 carried a staff of pure gold. This showed his power and wealth to the other people he visited.

7. Islamic Mosque in Ghana
blankbluesky.com/ travel/ghana/
After 700 AD, the religion of Islam began to spread over northern Africa. Followers of this religion are called Muslims. Muslim warriors came into Ghana and fought with the non-Islamic people there. This weakened the great civilization of Ghana. Local warriors then decided to break away from the power of Ghana and form their own local kingdoms. This ended many of the trade networks. This eventually weakened the civilization of Ancient Ghana.
Return

8. Mansa Musa was a Muslim, meaning he followed the religion of Islam
Mansa Musa was a Muslim, meaning he followed the religion of Islam. He built many beautiful mosques or Islamic temples in western Africa.

9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6XtBLDmPA0 Skip open letter 5:05-6:10
Trade across the Indian Ocean from Africa & Arabia to India & China along predictable monsoon winds
Much quicker & efficient than the Trans-Saharan trade
Spread Islam quickly

10. Indian Ocean Trade
Dhow – Ship with triangular or lateen sails, a flexible hull & stern rudder. Could tack against the wind.
In 1200CE they carry 100 tons of cargo by 1500: 400 tons
Bulk goods like lumber, cotton & food stuffs

11. Indian Ocean Trade Mariners learned how to ride the seasonal monsoons.
In the spring monsoons blew towards Asia and away in the fall. It took crews one year to complete the circuit
By 1200, trade increased dramatically partly because of increased European interest in spices, silks and porcelain after the Crusades.

12. Indian Ocean Trade East Coast of Africa aka Swahili Coast
Exported ivory, sandalwood, ebony & gold. Imported Chinese porcelain
Coastal cities prospered until 1500 when Europeans began to dominate trade.

13. Monsoons

14. “Now remove that and hang this one”