REVIEW OF West Africa Hernandez 2-6-13

West Africa There were 3

vegetation zones: Desert Savannah Forest

Least suitable area to live was anywhere near the Sahara Desert

Ghana and Mali thrived economically because they were on major trading routes.

Trade and life was centered around the Niger River

Trans-Saharan Trade Also known as the

Gold/Salt Trade Gold from the forest and

salt from the desert were the major commodities traded

Other important items involved in this trade were: food, slaves, and ideas (Islam)

Much of the trade that took place was silent bartering

Religion Before Islam, most West

Africans were polytheistic and prayed to their ancestors

After Islam was introduced to West Africa, education mostly based on studying Islam

The spread of the Arabic language gave many the ability to write

Ghana Ghana controlled

Gold/Salt Trade Through the Gold/Salt

Trade, the religion of Islam was introduced into West Africa

Ghana had a rich marketplace in the city of Kumbi

The empire of Ghana fell because of war with the Almoravids and a lack of resources that could not keep up with population growth. Lack of water Lack of trees

Mali Gained control of the land

Ghana had ruled Greatly expanded the empire

through war. Controlled the Gold/Salt Trade Had a king named Mansa

Musa Mansa Musa was Muslim and

practiced the religion closely When he went on his hajj,

Mansa Musa had a large entourage with a great deal of gold. ▪ This put Mali “On the Map”

Songhai The Songhai people were a group of

Muslims who lived in Mali. They wanted to break away from Mali They did eventually break away from

Mali and conquered Mali. The early leaders of the Songhai

Empire did not practice Islam seriously.

Askia Mohammed became the ruler of Songhai and demanded people follow Islam closely He set up rigid controls He converted many non-Muslims

through war He greatly expanded the empire through

these wars

Rulers Following the coming

of Islam-Rulers became known

as Emirs-local chiefs lost

power, the powers of large empires increased

- Succession was now patrilineal and not matrilineal

Islam in West Africa As Islam spread into West Africa, traditional

beliefs were not left behind People began to follow the 5 Pillars closely

and read and memorized the Quran, but they kept their traditional beliefs of praying to their ancestors. People also kept their amulets that they believed

protected them from harm Islam was practiced in West Africa as people

blended Islam and their traditional beliefs

Islamic Contributions in West Africa There are 4 most important

advancements Muslims made in West Africa Religion: Islam Government and Law: The Shari’ah Language: Arabic Education: The great desire to be

educated (Timbuktu became a major center of education) Mostly centered around Islam.

REVIEW OF West Africa Hernandez 2-6-13

West Africa There were 3

vegetation zones: ________ ________ ________

Least suitable area to live was anywhere near the ________Desert

Ghana and Mali thrived economically because they were on major _________ routes

Trade and life was centered around the _________River

Trans-Saharan Trade Also known as the

Gold/Salt Trade Gold from the forest and

salt from the desert were the major commodities traded

Other important items involved in this trade were______, _______, and _______ (Islam)

Much of the trade that took place was _______ bartering

Religion Before Islam, most

West Africans were _________ and prayed to their _________

After Islam was introduced to West Africa, education mostly based on studying ____

The spread of the ______ language gave many the ability to ____

Ghana Ghana controlled ______

Trade Through the Gold/Salt

Trade, the religion of ______ was introduced into West Africa

Ghana had a rich marketplace in the city of ________

The empire of Ghana fell because of war with the Almoravids and a lack of ________ that could not keep up with population _______. Lack of water Lack of trees

Mali Gained control of the land

Ghana had ruled Greatly expanded the empire

through Controlled the Gold/Salt Trade Had a king named _______

________ Mansa Musa was ______ and

practiced the religion closely When he went on his ____,

Mansa Musa had a large entourage with a great deal of _____▪ This put Mali “_______________”

Songhai The Songhai people were a group of

__________who lived in ______. They wanted to break away from Mali They did eventually break away from

Mali and __________ Mali. The early leaders of the Songhai

Empire did not practice Islam seriously.

________ ____________became the ruler of Songhai and demanded people follow Islam closely He set up rigid controls He _________ many non-Muslims through

war He greatly expanded the empire through

these wars

Rulers Following the coming

of Islam-Rulers became known

as ________-local chiefs lost

power, the powers of large ______ increased

- Succession was now _________ and not matrilineal

Islam in West Africa As Islam spread into West Africa, ________

beliefs were not left behind People began to follow the __ _______closely

and read and memorized the _______, but they kept their traditional beliefs of praying to their __________. People also kept their ________ that they believed

protected them from harm Islam was practiced in West Africa as people

blended ______ and their __________ beliefs

Islamic Contributions in West Africa There are 4 most important

advancements Muslims made in West Africa Religion: _______ Government and Law: The ________ Language: _______ Education: The great desire to be

educated (________ became a major center of education. Mostly centered around ________).