2. I. Africa – Prior Knowledge  the birthplace of humankind Great Rift Valley (map, p. 224) “Eve” hypothesis – suggests that all modern humans are descended from a single African woman  Egyptian Civilization emerged on the Nile River in the 4 th millennium BCE influenced the development of religion, commerce, philosophy, art, science & mathematics throughout the Mediterranean, the Middle East & Europe ruler = pharaoh (“great house”) writing = hieroglyphics Great Pyramids at Giza  religious beliefs – indigenous & Islamic

4. The Ancient West African Empires

5. II. Ancient Ghana  west African empire (see map, p. 230)  Ghana = Soninke word for “king”  was a wealthy kingdom, built through trade traded in cotton, glass beads, horses, and SALT; also exported slaves & gold used camels for transportation across the desert  capital: Kumbi Saleh population = 20,000 influence of Islamic culture, including the introduction of Arabic writing  ancient Ghana was destroyed by Islamic invaders in the late 11 th century CE

6. III. Mali (1230-1468)  founded by Sundiata was Muslim, and made Mali a Muslim state  Mali means “where the emperor resides” map, p. 230  was a populous and wealthy empire  Timbuktu: the most important city impt. for trade in gold, slaves & salt was a center for Islamic learning & culture ○ one of the most famous libraries of the ancient world was located in Timbuktu  Mansa Musa – the most famous ruler “mansa” means king doubled the size of Mali made a pilgrimage to Mecca

7. IV. Songhai (1464-1591)  leader: Sunni Ali conquered Timbuktu in 1468  were great traders & warriors  Askia Muhammad Toure replaced Sunni Ali in 1492 expanded the Songhai empire established a bureaucracy to regulate trade was a devout Muslim  capital: Gao (map, p. 230)  Songhai was destabilized when the Portuguese began to establish trading centers along the coast (the Gold Coast) eventually, the Gold Coast became known as the Slave Coast; it was the point of origin for the Middle Passage