While it may look like snow, it is not.

1
While it may look like snow, it is not. This
precious commodity is salt!
2
And you may not believe this but the human body
needs salt.
3
Salt is needed by the human body to help muscles
and nerves to work and to regulate blood
pressure.
4
If the human body goes for a long period of time
without salt, it will die.
5
As agriculture developed, salt became more
important. Farmers ate less meat than hunters
and gatherers. Therefore, they needed more salt.
6
Africa was home to many great kingdoms prior to
the arrival of the Europeans.
7
A series of powerful trading kingdoms emerged in
West Africa.
8
The West African kingdoms controlled important tra
de routes that connected North Africa and West
Africa.
9
North Africa was rich in the salt that West
Africa lacked. West Africa was rich in gold.
The Trans-Saharan trade led to an exchange of
salt for gold.
10
Ghana was called the land of gold but it did
not have gold. Instead, the trade routes passed
through Ghana and the kings of Ghana taxed
all entering and exiting the kingdom.
11
The kingdom of Ghana emerged as early as 500 A.D.
It collapsed in the 11th century.
12
The kings of Ghana used their wealth to build a
powerful army and keep the peace within their
empire.
13
Religious Muslims invaded and destroyed Ghana in
the 1100s but another West African kingdom rose
to power to protect the valuable Salt for Gold
Trade.
14
The Big Eight

• Why is salt essential for human beings?
• What did West Africa lack?
• What did North Africa possess?
• Describe the Trans-Saharan Trade.
• Which was the first powerful West African
  kingdom?
• Why was Ghana called the land of gold if it had
  no gold?
• How did Ghana use its wealth?
• What led to the decline of Ghana?