African%20Empires

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African Empires
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1 Point out 3 things about the map
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Bantu Migration

• 3,000 BC - Farmers, herders
• Known for Iron working, slash and burn
• Over 1,500 yrs, they migrated to S. Africa
• Cultural blending
• Swahili Arabic and Persian Bantu
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?veUdRSDcDQlY

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2 Think about synchronized swimmingThen, infer
what religious syncretism means.
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Religion in Africa

• Animism
• The belief that spirits are present in animals,
  plants, and other natural objects
• Islam
• Spread into Northern Africa through trade and
  conquest
• Christianity
• Brought into the Kingdom of Aksum
• Religious Syncretism
• Blending of religions

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3 Locate the Sahara desert. What would be
worth the travel across the desert to trade?
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Trans Saharan Trade

• Forests in West Africa deposits of gold
• However, lacked salt
• Sahara desert rich in salt
• Cultural blending

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4. Draw the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and
Songhai.
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Ghana

• Became rich from taxing traders
• Commanded an army and controlled trade
• Influenced by Islam
• Muslim Almoravids conquered and disrupted Ghanas
  trade

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5. What was the artist trying to portray in this
picture?
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Mali

• New gold found east of Ghana
• Twice size of Ghana
• Sundiata first great warrior leader of Mali
• Mansa Musa ruler of Mali who went on hajj
• Gave away enormous amounts of gold
• Europeans learned of Malis wealth
• Timbuktu famous city in Mali, mosques,
  universities

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6. What can you infer from the names of two
famous Songhai leaders below?
Sunni Ali
Askia Muhammad
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Songhai

• New gold fields developed eastward
• Sunni Ali - military leader who expanded
  territory
• Conquered Timbuktu
• Askia Muhammad took over after Alis son was
  not a Muslim
• Led empire at its peak

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7. Predict how Songhai might fall. (The last of
the West African Empries)
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The Fall

• Songhai lacked modern weapons
• 1304 Arabs developed first gun
• 1591 Moroccan army invaded Songhai with
  gunpowder and cannons
• Ended a 1,000 year period of powerful West
  African kingdoms

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