Aim:Aim:Explain how the gold-Explain how the gold-salt trade led to the salt trade led to the

rise of Ghana rise of Ghana

Gold-Salt TradeGold-Salt Trade Ghana (700 CE): Kingdom in Ghana (700 CE): Kingdom in W. AfricaW. Africa

Trade across the Sahara had existed Trade across the Sahara had existed for centuriesfor centuriesRulers were growing rich by taxing Rulers were growing rich by taxing the goods that traders carried the goods that traders carried through their territorythrough their territory

Two most important trade Two most important trade items were gold & saltitems were gold & salt

Gold came from forest region south Gold came from forest region south of Savannaof Savanna Until 1350, 2/3 of world’s gold came Until 1350, 2/3 of world’s gold came from W. Africafrom W. AfricaWest Africa’s savanna’s & forests West Africa’s savanna’s & forests lacks saltlacks salt Mineral essential to human lifeMineral essential to human life Sahara contained deposits of saltSahara contained deposits of salt

Arab & Berber traders Arab & Berber traders crossed the desert with camels crossed the desert with camels

Loaded with salt, cloth, weapons, & Loaded with salt, cloth, weapons, & manufactured goodsmanufactured goods

Land of Gold Land of Gold 800 CE: Ghana becomes 800 CE: Ghana becomes an empire an empire

Due to Ghana controlling trade Due to Ghana controlling trade and having large army, they and having large army, they demanded taxes and gifts from demanded taxes and gifts from surrounding landssurrounding lands As long as lands made As long as lands made payments, Ghana king left them payments, Ghana king left them in peacein peace

In royal palace, king In royal palace, king stored gold nuggets and stored gold nuggets and slabs of saltslabs of salt

Ghana’s African ruler Ghana’s African ruler acted as a religious leader, acted as a religious leader, chief judge, and military chief judge, and military commandercommander

Headed up large bureaucracyHeaded up large bureaucracy

Islamic InfluencesIslamic Influences Islam spread through N. Islam spread through N. Africa and South of the Africa and South of the SaharaSahara

Spread through tradeSpread through trade

Ghana rulers converted to Ghana rulers converted to IslamIslam

1111thth Century, Muslim advisers Century, Muslim advisers helped king run kingdomhelped king run kingdom

While African rulers While African rulers accepted Islam, many in accepted Islam, many in empire clung to animistic empire clung to animistic beliefs and practicesbeliefs and practices

AnimismAnimism: : Belief that spirits living Belief that spirits living in animals, plants, & natural forces in animals, plants, & natural forces play role in daily lifeplay role in daily life Many never convertMany never convert

Islam’s growth encouraged Islam’s growth encouraged the spread of literacythe spread of literacy

To study the Qur’anTo study the Qur’an