1. West African Civilizations
Chapter 15
Section 2

2. Key Terms Ghana Malli Sundiata Mansa Musa Ibn Battuta Songhai Hausa
Yoruba
Benin

3. Empire of Ghana Limited trade Most animals cannot cross the desert
3rd century camels were used
700 Ghana grew rich by taxing goods and traders traveling through the country

4. Gold-Salt Trade Gold came from the forest Niger and Senegal
Two thirds of worlds gold came from Ghana till 1350
Sahara had salt
People build houses out of salt

5. Gold-Salt Trade Berbers crossed the desert in camel caravans
Traders brought gold from the North
Merchants met in trading cities
Made sure taxes paid and good weighed fairly
Royal guards provided protection

6. Land of Gold 800 Ghana an empire Only king could own gold nuggets
Gold dust was traded
King limited gold supply and kept price up Ghana’s ruler
Religious leader
Chief judge
Military commander

7. Islamic Influences Spread through trade and conquest
11th century Ghana converted too Islam
Animism-spirits in living things play an important part in life
Islam encouraged literacy

8. Islamic Influences Converts to Islam had to read the Qur’an
1076 Muslim Almoravids completed conquest of Ghana
Almoravid eventually left Ghana
War badly disrupted gold-salt trade

9. Empire of Mali 1235 kingdom emerged Mali’s wealth built on gold
Trade routes shifted eastward to Mali
Sundiata-Mali’s first great leader
Became Mali’s Mansa (emperor)

10. Sundiata Conquers an Empire
Sundiata had a period of peace
He had administrators for finance
Promoted agriculture and the gold-salt trade
Mali means where the king lives

11. Mansa Musa Ruled from 1312-1332 Skilled military leader
100,000 man Army protects against attack
Empire expanded to twice its size
Divided into provinces with governors

12. Mansa Musa Went on a Hajj to Mecca Ordered new mosques in Timuktu
Became most important city in the empire
Judges
Doctors
Scholars
Religious leaders
Excellent universities and mosques

13. Travels of Ibn Battuta 1352 successor to Mansa Musa From Tangier
Traveled for 27 years visiting most Muslim countries
Traveled safely, praised the Qur’an
Criticized for not following moral code

14. Travels of Ibn Battuta Left Mali in 1353 Empire began to weaken
Successors lacked the ability to govern
Gold trade shifted as new fields were found

15. Empire of Songhai People of the east Strong Army Sunni Ali
Rule begins in 1464
captures Timbuktu
Five years later took Djenne
Surrounded the city for 7 years
Married their queen

16. Askia Muhammad 1492 after Sunni’s death
Drove Sunni Ali’s son from power
Ruled for 37 years
Excellent administrator
Centralized the government
Appointed officials to run the government

17. Askia Muhammad Lacked modern weapons
Arabs develop first gun to shoot arrows
Moroccan’s had cannons
Moroccans quickly defeated the Songhai
Ends 1000 year period of kingdoms and empires ruled central Africa

18. Other Peoples of West Africa
Hausa- group of people named after their language
Appeared Mali and Songhai
Hausa city-states
Vigorous slave trade
Traded horses, harnesses, guns

19. Other Peoples of West Africa
All Hausa city-states had similar government
Ministers and officials check power
Each city-state had an army (mounted horsemen)
Fighting between city-states prevented and empire

20. Yoruba Kings and Artists
All spoke a common language
Number of small city-states in Benin
Farmers
Joined together to form several Yoruba Kingdoms

21. Yoruba Kings and Artists
Kings considered divine
Descendants of Ife
Creator sent the first ruler to earth
Sons became head of Yoruba kingdoms
Chiefs consider king highest spiritual authority

22. Yoruba Kings and Artists
Secret society reviewed the king’s decisions
Ife and Oyo two largest kingdoms
Ife most powerful from
City dwellers crafts people and traders

23. Yoruba Kings and Artists
Ife artists
Carved wood
Carved ivory
Terra cotta sculptures
Sculptures caste in metal
Rulers supplied artists
Clay and metal portray rulers life

24. Kingdom of Benin Delta of Niger River Port of Gwatto
Traded with Portuguese
First kings 1200’s
Descent from first king of Ife
Lagos, Nigeria
Fortified with walls

25. Kingdom of Benin Huge palace Artists created
Brass heads of the royal family
Copper figurines
Brass plaques on wall showed historical scenes and deeds of nobles
Learned from an Ife artist

26. Kingdom of Benin
1480’s Portuguese traded pepper, leopard skins, ivory and enslaved persons
Began European interference in Africa
They enslaved Africans
Seized territories for colonies
Prospered from trade