West African Trade Empires

1
West African Trade Empires

• Berbers
• Ghana
• Mali
• Songhai

2
Berbers

• The first known people to settle North Africa
• Crossed Sahara to trade in West Africa
• 400 B.C.E.
• Traded salt and cloth from N. Africa for gold and
  ivory of W. Africa

3
Camels

• Rome conquered North Africa
• Brought camels from Asia
• ships of the desert
• Revolutionized trade
• Broad feet dont sink, hump stores fat for food
• 100s-1000s linked in huge caravans
• Trade led to cities and empires in the West 1st
  was Ghana

4
The Rise of Ghana

• A crossroads of trade
• Trade routes reached across the Sahara to N.
  Africa, down the Niger River, and to the rain
  forests of the Congo Basin
• All trade routes went through Ghana

5
Early trade

• West Africans wanted salt to preserve food and to
  help bodies
• Berbers wanted gold to sell in Europe
• Ghana collected high taxes from each to trade

6
Trade in Ghana

• Ghana had iron weapons
• Ghana had a huge army
• People had a strong demand for the trade items

7
Ghanas government

• Monarchy
• Close group of advisors
• Provinces, governed by lesser kings
• District chiefs under provinces with clans
• Power went to nephew, son of kings sister

8
Fall of Ghana

• New gold mines discovered outside of Ghanas
  control
• Farming failed in Ghana
• Fighting with Northern tribes weakened Ghana

9
Rise of Mali

• Sundiata Keita (sun-dee-AH-tuh KY-tuh)
• Lion Prince, took control of Ghana, then lands
  from Atlantic coast to Timbuktu
• Gained control of gold-mining areas

10
Malis government

• Monarchy
• Like Ghana, but larger
• King
• Land divided into provinces
• Generals in charge of provinces

11
Mansa Musa

• Made Mali a great center of education, trade, and
  art
• Made journey to Makkah (Mecca) in 1324 to show
  power and wealth of Mali
• 8000 slaves, 100 camels, 24,000 lbs of gold
  (spent so much gold, weakened its worth in Egypt)
• Convince Muslim leaders to return with him,
  helped to spread Islam in W.Africa

12
Fall of Mali

• Death of Mansa Musa
• Kings that followed unable to lead and stop
  Berber invasions
• Controlled by northern Berbers for a time

13
Rise of Songhai

• Sunni Ali stormed Timbuktu and forced Berbers out
• Used Niger River to conquer river tribes and
  extended west to take salt mines
• Built large empire

14
Songhais government

• Monarchy
• Like Ghana and Mali, but larger
• Muslim kings followed Sunni Ali led by Askia
  Muhammad (pushed Sunni Alis family out)
• Provinces ruled by local courts based on Islamic
  ideals

15
Fall of Songhai

• Small army from Morocco crossed Sahara and
  defeated Songhai
• Army had gunpowder, guns, and cannons Songhai
  did not

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West African Empires