kingdoms of africa: ghana, mali, and songhai. kingdom of ghana western africa, located on the...
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Kingdoms of Africa:Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
Kingdom of Ghana• Western Africa, located on the Senegal River
– Emerged in 500 A.D.• 1st Great Traders of West Africa
– Gold and Salt trade• Farming communities throughout nation• Strong rulers, no laws to govern with
– Rulers acted as religious leader, judge, and military commander as well
• Well trained army to protect Kingdom• Vast wealth- resources of gold, silver, and iron
ore
Ghana Continued• Traded gold and salt but also cloth and weapons• Berbers- traders whom carried the products
across the desert– Camels used– About 3 miles per hours, about 60 days to reach
destination
• Spread of Islamic ideas through trade– Literacy grew- study of the Qu’ran
Empire of Ghana• King collected taxes on all goods traded
– Usually took tax payments as gold or salt blocks• King controlled/owned all gold
– Preventing it from losing its value you at market– Type of economy- Government Controlled!
• Elaborate dress for the wealthy• 800 A.D.- reached empire status
– Smaller rulers left in place over territories• Like a bureaucracy
– Independent rulers pay tax = freedom of state
End of Ghana• Lived in luxury for hundreds of years
• Weakened by war
• Collapsed in the 1200’s– Invasion
Kingdom of Mali• 12th Century
• Defeated Ghana, captured capital 1240
• Extended from Atlantic Coast to Timbuktu
• Wealth came from gold and salt trade
• Each village had its own ruler– Ruler governed and sent money to the king of
Mali
Mansa
• Meaning “ruler”• Major Ruler- Sundiata
– provided wealth and power to empire– re-organized government– Capital- Niani
• moved government westward provided more trading posts
Mansa Musa• Powerful king, 1312- 1337• Extended kingdom (double
the size)• Strong central govt.,
kingdom divided into provinces
• Timbuktu- Islamic learning center– Pilgrimage to Mecca, wanted
education in Mali– Built mosques and libraries
• Civil War, 1359 divided Mali, beginning of the end
Kingdom of Songhai• Niger River Valley
– Land very fertile (yearly flooding)
• Islamic kingdom• Benefited from Muslim trade routes• Askia the Great- expanded the kingdom, 1464
– Cities - Timbuktu and Djenne– Created a professional army– Gave total control of trade routes to Songhai– Ruled for over 30 years
Songhai Continued• Muhammad Ture - Golden Age ruler
• Expansion, peaceful and secure time
• After his reign entered into a decline
• By 1600- Songhai completely declined– Lacked modern weapons– Overthrown finally by North African armies