1. West African Trading Kingdoms

2. West African Trading Kingdoms

3. Ghana

4. most important goods traded?
Ghana
As trade began to increase with the use of camels across the northern part of the Sahara Desert, Ghana rulers began to tax goods carried through their lands.
What were the two
most important goods traded?
Gold and Salt

5. As Ghana became a powerful empire, it converted to Islam.
salt
Ghana
As Ghana became a powerful empire, it converted to Islam.
As Ghana fell to the Almorvids of N. Africa, they never really regained its former power

6. Mali

7. Mali Sundiata became Mali’s first Emperor.
Sundiata was a great military and political leader.
Mali rulers adopted the Muslim religion.

8. Mansa Musa

9. Mansa Musa Made Mali twice the size of the old empire Ghana.
Appointed governors to help him rule
Devoted Muslim (built two mosques)
One was built in Timbuktu were it became the leading center of Muslim learning
Ibn Battuta later traveled through Mali and described it as peaceful

10. Mansa Musa’ Hajj to Mecca
Mansa Musa went through Egypt.
He gave away so much gold, he ruined the economy of Egypt for ten years!

11. Effects Outside Africa
Pilgrimage to Mecca
Musa and entourage impressed people with their lavish clothing, generous gifts
Trip to Mecca led to great changes in Mali
Returning to kingdom, Musa brought artists, architects who designed beautiful mosques; also built schools, libraries where people could study Qu’ran, other Islamic writings
Musa’s hajj brought Mali to attention of Europe
Mali began to appear on European maps for first time
Within a century, Europeans began to search West Africa for source of Mali’s riches
Effects Outside Africa
Rulers following Musa not as strong
Several peoples broke away, set up independent kingdoms
Mali also invaded from outside
Among invaders, Tuareg
1433, captured Timbuktu, a blow from which Mali never recovered
Decline of Mali

12. Songhai

13. Songhai Songhai Rise of Songhai Military Leadership
Songhai existed as small kingdom for centuries, paid tribute to Ghana, Mali
Grew wealthy trading goods along Niger River
Came in contact with Muslim traders; Islam became influence on culture
Rise of Songhai
1460s, rulers had become strong, rich enough to take control of former empire of Mali
Songhai’s rise under leadership of military leader, sunni, named Sunni Ali
Military Leadership
Ali’s first act as leader: took Timbuktu from the Tuareg
Led number of campaigns against neighboring peoples to build empire
Military success came from army of skilled cavalry, navy of war canoes
Conquered new territories, replaced local leaders with Ali’s own followers

14. Songhai
Asia Muhammad

15. Songhai Askia Muhammad Pilgrimage
Songhai’s culture reached height under Askia Muhammad
Reign considered to be golden age
During 35 years he ruled, Askia Muhammad expanded Songhai, strengthened its government
Pilgrimage
Askia Muhammad, Songhai’s first Muslim ruler
Islam had been introduced earlier; Sunni Ali never became Muslim
To show commitment, Askia Muhammad decided to make pilgrimage to Mecca
Traveled through Egypt, gained support of Muslim rulers

16. Results of Pilgrimage Songhai Trade Resumed Control, Decline
During pilgrimage, Askia Muhammad made contact with traders from North Africa
Trans-Saharan trade that had slowed after fall of Mali resumed once again
Increased commerce made Songhai very wealthy kingdom
Askia Muhammad used wealth to once again make Timbuktu center of culture, Islamic scholarship
Trade Resumed
To secure control of trade, Askia Muhammad extended Songhai’s borders north into desert, home of the Tuareg
Did not want raiders to interfere with traveling merchants
Reformed government, built offices in capital city of Gao to oversee trade, agriculture, military
Eventually overthrown by son
By 1591 empire conquered by Morocco
Control, Decline