1. Kingdoms of the Grasslands – West African Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
Chapter 8 (2 of 4)

2. They are know as the Sudanic states
Need to Know:
Ghana
Mali
Songhai
They are know as the Sudanic states

4. Islam Spreads Quickly Through North Africa
Islam spread mostly by merchants and travelers, not so much invaders

5. By 700s, States Formed Along Edge of Sahara
Sahel – grassland (savanna) at south end of Sahara where these states formed

6. West African grasslands we are discussing
Advantages:
Grew by being along trade route (gold traded from west Africa for salt or dates from Sahara)
Used camels to trade in the desert
Disadvantages:
Suffered many droughts
Located on plains, so open to invasion

7. West African or Sudanic States
These states were led by a council of elders, and would get control over neighbor states and tax them to get more powerful
A majority of populations never converted to Islam, just the rulers (shows that Islam blended with local cultures and traditions)
West African or Sudanic States

8. West African or Sudanic States
Resembled rest of north Africa, but distinctive local architecture
Towns were commercial – lots of trade and craftsmen
Large militaries to protect trade – encouraged merchants and scholars to come to places like Mali

9. Ghana
Grew into strong state by taxing gold and salt trade that occurred there
1st of the Sudanic states
Ghana was attacked in 1076 and began declining
By 900s, rulers had converted to Islam
Attacked by Almoravids – Muslim reformers within the Berbers

10. Malinke (Mali) people broke from Ghana and formed Mali in 1200s
King converted to Islam to enhance power (preached loyalty to kings at services)
Economy based on agriculture and trade (had access to gold in south)
Juula = Malinke merchants who formed groups to trade through west Africa
Griots – oral historians and advisors to kings in Africa
Mali
Click map for video on Mali

11. 2 Most Important Leaders of Mali
Sundiata
Nicknamed the “Lion Prince”
Greatly expanded Mali
Overcame regional fighting to unite Mali as 1 powerful state
Created basic laws for Mali
Known as Mansa (emperor)
Created social arrangement – each clan had different responsibility (helped unite them)
Severely punished crime to protect trade and keep security
Mansa Musa
Mansa Musa led Mali
Went on hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca giving away gold to show Mali’s wealth
Brought back Ishak al-Sahili, architect, built mosques and unique form of Mali architecture (out of beaten clay; ex = mosque of Jenne)
Mali’s contact with outside world brought change and innovation

12. Ibn Butata Famed Arab traveler who recorded his journeys.
Made trip through Africa and recorded African societies and cultures
Made journey to Mali

13. Timbuktu Had a library and university
But 80% of Mali lived outside cities in farming villages
City in Mali Population over 50,000
Had a library and university

14. Farming in west African grassland kingdoms
Savanna sandy and shallow, tough to farm
Used irrigation and crop rotation to overcome and supply states with food
Grew rice, millet, wheat, fruit, and vegetables (used this to supply merchants coming through)
Most farms small and privately owned
Polygamy common – more wives and children, more help to farm (still to this day)
Farming in west African grassland kingdoms

15. Ghana
Mali
Songhai

16. Songhai Located in Mali empire, as Mali crumbled, Songhai grew
Along gold trade route helped it grow
Rulers became Muslim, majority people didn’t
Gao = capital of Songhai, many mosques and foreign merchants living there
Songhai

17. Led Songhai (1464-1492) – used cavalry to expand Songhai into huge empire
Sunni Ali
Persecuted all who opposed him (including fellow Muslims)
Set up bureaucracy to rule far flung areas of empire
Askia = title given to rulers who followed Sunni Ali
Captured Timbuktu and Jenne

18. Expanded Songhai so by 1500s it dominated central Sudan
Muhammad the Great
Expanded Songhai so by 1500s it dominated central Sudan

19. Life in Songhai The Fall of Songhai
Similar to life in the previous states in the savanna (Ghana and Mali)
Islam blended with local pagan beliefs – upset ulama
(example = ulama upset women didn’t have to wear veils)
The Fall of Songhai
1591 – Songhai defeated by Morocco
(Songhai larger army, but Morocco had guns)
Defeat set off internal revolts and Songhai broke apart

20. Looking Back at Islam’s Impact on Sudanic (West African) States
Islam provided universal faith – could unite people
Rulers used Islam to enhance their power
Helped trade – Muslim traders more comfortable trading with other Muslims
Leaders surrounded themselves with Muslim scholars who helped rule
Ex = many societies matrilineal, while Sharia law says patrilineal (women had much freedom in west Africa)
Islam combined with local cultures (Africans kept local traditions)
Social hierarchy formed, though common bond through Islam

21. West African Traditions That Lived on After the Fall of Songhai
Hausa people of northern Nigeria formed states after Songhay collapsed, blended Islam and pagan traditions
Other states in the region continued to blended Islam and Paganism
These states used large cavalries to protect trade (salt, grain, cloth)
These states were relatively small, but continued culture of Ghana, Mali, Songhai

22. Islam’s Affect on Slavery
Slavery existed prior to Islam coming, but as Muslims conquered Africa, slave trade grew on huge scale
Muslims saw slavery as step to converting people to Islam
Slaves used as servants, laborers, soldiers, administrators, eunuchs, and concubines (so wanted to enslave women and children)
Slave trade lasted 700 years and is an example of Islam’s lasting impact on Africa