West Africa In the Middle Ages. Warm-Up(1/17/12) Complete questions West Africa Civilizations What do we know? What do we want to know? What will we.

West Africa In the Middle Ages

Warm-Up(1/17/12) Complete questions West Africa Civilizations What do we know? What do we want to know? What will we learn?

Geography Savannah, Forest, Desert Vegetation Zones Different resources

Religion Traditional beliefs and religion Islam from North Africa A balance between the two religions

Achievements Elaborate trade networks Contributions to Muslim learning Strong government over a wide area

Politics Rule by kings in empires or kingdoms Kingdoms would expand when rulers of wealthy cities conquered other cities Kings made merchants pay tribute Villages most important to common people

Economy All about the trade- Mali and Ghana able to prosper economically because they were located along trade routes Gold and slaves from the south, salt from the north, food from both Trans-Sahara trade

Social Structure Family structure Villages are key Kinship considered vital

Geography and Trade

Niger River

Important river in West Africa Went through 3 vegetation zones Provided farmland Transportation and communication

Desert Dry climate Only plants that need little water grow Sahara desert dominant feature and barrier Salt found here, and labor often needed Some food grown No gold

Savannah Grassland in a tropical region Flat, grassy, and some scattered trees Wet and dry seasons Certain crops and cattle come from this area in big amount No salt or gold Extra Labor

Forest Wet climate with many plants Found in the southern coastal areas of West Africa Gold is found here Some food grown, but no salt Extra Labor

Trading Trade can be difficult Niger River helps trade in parts of West Africa Sahara a large barrier to northern Africa Camel used starting in 300 CE Camel greatly increased trade abilities

The Trade What goes where? Who gets what? What does each vegetation zone have? What does each vegetation zone need? How will it get there?

The Ghana Empire Read pages 159-161 in textbook Use Cornell Notes system In your Main Ideas section, break up your notes into sections: – The Foundation of the Empire – Religious and Cultural Changes – Influence of Islamic Beliefs – Ghana Under Attack Write at least 3 main points for each section

The Mali Empire Read aloud as a class pages 165- 167 in textbook Use organized notes First section: Rise of Mali – Sundiata Comes to Power (4 notes) – Mansa Musa Expands the Empire (4 notes) Second section: Decline of Mali – Internal Problems (2 notes) – External Problems (2 notes)

Sundiata Sundiata had a powerful army, captured parts of old Ghana, including the old capital Expanded the empire and trade networks starting in 1240 CE and made new capital of Timbuktu

Sundiata Islam and traditional beliefs are balanced Crops expanded in certain regions

Mansa Musa Mansa Musa came to power in 1312 CE and was a devoted Muslim Allowed his people to practice any religion

Mansa Musa 1324 CE began a great pilgrimage to Mecca that raised interest in West Africa Brought back Islamic advancements and ideas

Decline of Mali After Mansa Musa died in 1332 CE, people fought over who would be the next ruler Newly conquered regions began to rebel against Mali rule

Decline of Mali Berber’s came from the north and captured Mali’s territories and Timbuktu by 1433 CE By 1500 CE, Mali was only a small kingdom

West Africa In the Middle Ages

West Africa Civilizations What do we know? What do we want to know? What will we learn?

Geography ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________

Religion Traditional beliefs and religion Islam from _______________ A balance between the _________________

Achievements Elaborate trade networks Contributions to _____________ learning Strong _______________ over a wide area

Politics Rule by kings in empires or kingdoms _______________ would expand when rulers of wealthy cities conquered other cities Kings made merchants pay _______________ Villages most important to common people

Economy All about the trade- Mali and Ghana able to prosper economically because they were located along __________________ _________and slaves from the south, ___________ from the north, food from both _________________ trade

Social Structure _____________ structure Villages are key Kinship considered vital

Geography and Trade

Niger River

Important __________ in West Africa Went through 3 vegetation zones Provided ______________ _________________ and communication

Desert ___________ climate Only plants that need little water grow _____________ desert dominant feature and barrier ________ found here, and labor often needed Some food grown ___________________

Savannah _______________ in a tropical region Flat, ___________, and some scattered trees Wet and dry seasons Certain crops and cattle come from this area in big amount No ________________ Extra Labor

Forest Wet climate with many plants Found in the southern coastal areas of West Africa ____________ is found here Some food grown, but _______________ Extra Labor

Trading Trade can be difficult ___________________ helps trade in parts of West Africa ________________a large barrier to northern Africa Camel used starting in 300 CE Camel greatly increased trade abilities