1. West Africa and the Spread of Islam

2. Agenda 1.Bell Ringer: What is the major impact of Islam on the Middle East and Africa? 2.Lecture: West Africa and Islam 3.Primary Document, Mansa Musa 4.A Comparison of West African Society 5.The reliability of Oral History, a discussion

4. Ghana Earliest Kingdom Established by Soninke people 300 A.D. Iron tools used for farming. Reaches peak 1050 A.D. Tunka Manin- – Commanded army of 200,000 soldiers – Bows, arrow, and spears. 1235 A.D. neighboring Malinki people overthrow Ghana.

5. Mali Successor kingdom to Ghana. Reached power in 1300 A.D. under Mansa Musa. – Pilgrimage Supporter of education, arts, and public buildings. Timbuktu becomes center of learning. Mali weakened over Musa’s death. 1468 A.D. Sonni Ali takes over Mali, establishes Songhai.

6. Songhai Gao becomes Africa’s commercial center. Located on Niger River. Kingdom divided into provinces. Warships patrolled Niger River. Mohammed I Askia, continues Sonni Ali’s strong leadership. Timbuktu, established as a commercial center. 1591, Kingdom falls to Moroccan army.

7. Emergence of Islam 641 AD they enter Egypt. By 690 they had taken North Africa for the Berber traders. Mansa Musa would bring the Muslim faith to Mali in 1312 AD.