1. West Africa Notes EQ: What was the most significant factor in the development of Early Societies in West africa?

2. West Africa’s 4 Climate Zones
Sahara Desert: salt was key trade good
Sahel: Shore of the Desert: area in between desert and savanna
Savanna: tall grasses and small trees: good for growing grains
Rain forest: wood and edible roots like yams

3. The Gold and Salt Trade The three great West African empires (Ghana, Mali, Songhai) were built on trade; especially the gold and salt trade.

4. The Niger and Senegal Rivers All three empires were located near the Niger and Senegal Rivers. The rivers acted as highways for trade.

5. Ghana To what extent did trans-Saharan trade lead to Ghana’s wealth and success?
Arab scholars described Ghana as a fabled “land of gold.”
Ghana’s succession was matrilineal.
Ghana had a powerful army.
Ghana acted as “middleman” for the salt traders from the north (Taghaza) and the gold traders from the south (Wangara).
Aaa                            

6. Trade Ghana becomes wealthy by taxing traders.
Gold and salt were equal in value.
Wangarans practiced silent bartering.
Trade increased between North and West Africa due to the introduction of the camel and the spread of Islam.

7. Camels: Ships of the Desert
Adaptations:
Eyelashes protect eyes from wind-blown sand.
Nostrils close to keep sand out.
Lips are thickened to withstand the coarsest of desert plants.
Coloration matches the environment.
Callouses are present on knees and other parts of the body that touch the hot sand when the animal sits down.
Hump is a flesh mound not supported by bones. A reserve of fat (not water) is stored in the hump. Hump size varies with food supply and working conditions.
Drink brackish or salt water. Camels exhibit unusual tolerance for dehydration.
Feet are broadened to walk on sand.

8. Primary Source
Ibn Battuta, the famous Muslim adventurer, described crossing the Sahara in a journal.

9. Ghana’s Collapse Ghana collapsed due to a loss of natural resources
and an invasion by the Almoravids.

10. Assignment 10/9/15 Questions and Acrostic Poem
“Ghana’s Wealth” Acrostic Poem
Use Notes, Hist Alive , Holt
Ghana, the middleman in trans-Saharan trade.
Headresses were a sign of power. A N S
Wangara: the secret source of gold. E L
Taghaza: A village built on salt. H
Do this first:
Page
Answer questions on Page 135 (1-4)
This is due today because you don’t have this book at home.

11. Spread of Islam Trade brought Islam to West Africa
Tolerance shown by Muslims toward traditional religious practices helped Islam spread.

12. Islam Brings Change Islam brought changes in: religious practices
succession (patrilineal)
government (more centralized)
system of law (shari’ah)
education with Timbuktu becoming a center of learning
language with Arabic becoming the language of religion, learning, trade and government
architecture (al-Saheli, built great mosques and introduced a new design for houses)
arts (including calligraphy)

13. Mali: The Second Great West African Empire
Mali is lead by the Mande tribe.
The Golden Age of West Africa occurs under Mansa Musa’s leadership.

14. Mansa Musa’s Pilgrimage
Mansa Musa puts Mali on the world map with his hajj.
Mansa Musa brings scholars back to Mali and make it a center of learning.

15. Timbuktu: A Center of Trade and Learning

16. Use Pages 136-140 to answer questions on Page 140 (1-4 all) Due Today
Mali Assignment
Use Pages to answer questions on Page 140 (1-4 all) Due Today

17. Timbuktu Travel Advertisement or Brochure Due Friday
Create a poster or brochure advertisement that promotes travel to Timbuktu. Be sure to feature interesting things to see or do there. Focus on Education, Religion, and Trade. Look on Page 139 at school; Home Pg 160.
Some background info. Tuareg nomads from the Sahara first established Timbuktu in the 11th Century. After it was conquered by Mali, it became an important trade stop. Timbuktu’s location on the southern edge of the Sahara and the Northern most point of the Niger River made it a perfect link between North and West Africa. Had several universities and mosques.

18. Influence of Islam on West Africa
Suppose you are a tour guide in Timbuktu about Your job is to show foreign visitors around the city. You will stop at three sites: a mosque, a market, and a school. At each site you will describe how each place shows two to three influences and changes brought about by the spread of Islam into West Africa.
Your comments need to include what a visitor can see, what they can hear, what people are doing at each site, and/or other information related to each site.
Each site will have its own section on the brochure. Be sure to include pictures and have your brochure neatly organized.

19. Mosques in Timbuktu
Markets in Timbuktu
Schools in Timbuktu
When you visit mosques in Timbuktu you will discover:
________________
Markets in Timbuktu are vibrant places where people come together to exchange a variety of goods like:
___________________
The focus on learning of the schools in Timbuktu is:

20. Songhai: The Third Great West African Empire
About 100 years after Mansa Musa’ death, the Songhai rise up under Sunni Ali and conquer Mali.
Under Askia Mohammed Toure, Songhai expands and becomes a strict Muslim empire.
                                                                                     The shaded portion indicates

21. The Cultural Legacy of West Africa
West Africa has left a rich cultural legacy in oral and written traditions, music and visual arts.
Oral traditions use the art of storytelling to record a culture’s history
Griots are poet-musicians and historians.

22. Sundjata Keita
The most cherished tale in griot history is the story of Sundjata Keita, the founder of Mali.

23. Oral Traditions
Folktales were used to pass down history and to teach young people morals and values.
Proverbs are popular sayings meant to express something wise or true.
African music has influenced jazz, blues, rock and rap music.