(15.2) WEST (15.2) WEST AFRICAN AFRICAN

CIVILIZATIONSCIVILIZATIONS

Objective: Identify key figures and significant economic, political, and social characteristics associated with Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. Objective: Trace the growth of major sub-Saharan African kingdoms and empires (Ghana, Mali, Songhai).

Objective: Examine the internal and external factors that led to the fall of the empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. •Disruption of trade•Internal political struggles•Islamic invasions

GHANA, MALI, SONGHAIGHANA, MALI, SONGHAI

Salt & gold trade

Taxation system

Gold monopoly

Matrilineal inheritance

Griots

Ancestral worship

Rise of Islam

Slavery

Sunni Ali

Askia Mohammad the Great

Gold

Salt trade

Cowries as a medium of exchange

Sankore University

Slavery

Professional army

Provincial political structure

Sundiata

Epic of Sundiata

Mansa Musa

Ibn Battuta

Gold mining & salt trade

Slavery

SETTING THE STAGESETTING THE STAGE

Why it matters: these Why it matters: these civilizations show the civilizations show the richness of African culture richness of African culture before European before European colonization. They colonization. They developed independent of developed independent of European influence.European influence.

While the Almohads & While the Almohads & Almoravids build empires in Almoravids build empires in North Africa, 3 powerful North Africa, 3 powerful empires flourished in West empires flourished in West Africa in the Sahel, the Africa in the Sahel, the savanna region south of the savanna region south of the SaharaSahara Grew strong by Grew strong by

controlling tradecontrolling trade

EMPIRE OF GHANAEMPIRE OF GHANA Trade routes crossing savannah farmed by Soninke people who Trade routes crossing savannah farmed by Soninke people who

called their ruler called their ruler ghanaghana = war chief = war chief By 700s Ghana was By 700s Ghana was kingdom & rulers grew rich by taxing the goods traders carried kingdom & rulers grew rich by taxing the goods traders carried through their territorythrough their territory

2 important trade items = gold & salt2 important trade items = gold & saltArabs & Berbers (nomads) cross desert with camel caravans. Arabs & Berbers (nomads) cross desert with camel caravans.

Ghana’s ruler acted as religious leader, chief judge, and military Ghana’s ruler acted as religious leader, chief judge, and military leader with a large bureaucracy & a huge army.leader with a large bureaucracy & a huge army.

Islam spread in South Africa through tradeIslam spread in South Africa through trade

Ghana fell when 1076 Muslim Almoravids of N. Africa completed Ghana fell when 1076 Muslim Almoravids of N. Africa completed their conquest – war disrupted the gold/salt tradetheir conquest – war disrupted the gold/salt trade

EMPIRE OF MALIEMPIRE OF MALI Founded by Mande-speaking people south of Ghana & Founded by Mande-speaking people south of Ghana &

their wealth was built on gold (like Ghana).their wealth was built on gold (like Ghana).

Mali’s 1Mali’s 1stst great leader = great leader = SundiataSundiata, a , a mansa mansa (emperor). (emperor).

Promoted agriculture and reestablished the gold-salt Promoted agriculture and reestablished the gold-salt trade trade Niani (capital) becomes center of commerce Niani (capital) becomes center of commerce

Sundiata dies 1255 Sundiata dies 1255 African Muslim rulers (like African Muslim rulers (like Mansa Musa) take over & build mosques/preach Mansa Musa) take over & build mosques/preach Islam.Islam.

Mansa MusaMansa Musa: skilled military leader who put down : skilled military leader who put down rebellion and expanded the empire rebellion and expanded the empire

divides it into provinces & appointed governors who divides it into provinces & appointed governors who ruled fairly & efficiently.ruled fairly & efficiently.

Timbuktu = most important city of empire Timbuktu = most important city of empire

MALI & TRAVELS OF IBN MALI & TRAVELS OF IBN BATTUTABATTUTA

Ibn Battuta = traveled for 27 years Ibn Battuta = traveled for 27 years visiting most of the countries in the visiting most of the countries in the Islamic world.Islamic world. Traveled throughout Mali without fear of Traveled throughout Mali without fear of

crime. Why…?crime. Why…? Because Mali’s justice system impressed Because Mali’s justice system impressed

himhim ““They are seldom unjust, and have a They are seldom unjust, and have a

greater abhorrence of injustice than any greater abhorrence of injustice than any other people. Their sultan shows no other people. Their sultan shows no mercy to anyone who is guilty of the mercy to anyone who is guilty of the least act of it. There is complete security least act of it. There is complete security in their country. Neither traveler nor in their country. Neither traveler nor inhabitant in it has anything to fear from inhabitant in it has anything to fear from robbers.”robbers.”

Mali declines in 1400s – leaders after Mali declines in 1400s – leaders after Mansa Musa lack ability, & gold trade Mansa Musa lack ability, & gold trade shifts eastward as new gold fields shifts eastward as new gold fields developed elsewhere. developed elsewhere.

EMPIRE OF SONGHAIEMPIRE OF SONGHAI

Mali declines Mali declines Songhai people to the east build up an Songhai people to the east build up an army & extend territory to Niger River/gain control of army & extend territory to Niger River/gain control of important trade routes important trade routes Gao = capital of Songhai Gao = capital of Songhai Empire.Empire.

2 great Songhai Muslim rulers2 great Songhai Muslim rulers1. Sunni Ali: builds professional army with war canoes 1. Sunni Ali: builds professional army with war canoes

and mobile forces on horseback (captures Timbuktu & and mobile forces on horseback (captures Timbuktu & Djenne).Djenne).

2. Asaki Muhammad : excellent administrator 2. Asaki Muhammad : excellent administrator efficient tax system & appointed officials to serve as efficient tax system & appointed officials to serve as ministers of treasury, army, navy, agricultureministers of treasury, army, navy, agriculture

Songhai falls because lack modern weaponsSonghai falls because lack modern weapons1591 Moroccan force (Islamic invaders) with 1591 Moroccan force (Islamic invaders) with

gunpowder/cannons invade- the collapse of Songhai gunpowder/cannons invade- the collapse of Songhai ends a 1000 yr period in which powerful kingdoms ends a 1000 yr period in which powerful kingdoms ruled central region of West Afruled central region of West Af

ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL TERMINOLOGYTERMINOLOGY

Matrilineal inheritance (Ghana): Matrilineal inheritance (Ghana): inheritance/family line based upon inheritance/family line based upon mothermother

Griots (Ghana): West Africa Griots (Ghana): West Africa historian/story teller/musician (oral historian/story teller/musician (oral tradition)tradition)

Ancestral worship (Ghana): past Ancestral worship (Ghana): past descendants are honoreddescendants are honored

Epic of Sundiata (Mali): Epic poem that Epic of Sundiata (Mali): Epic poem that honors founder of Mali empire honors founder of Mali empire

Cowries as a medium of exchange Cowries as a medium of exchange (Songhai): shells of sea snail used for (Songhai): shells of sea snail used for trade/ jewelry/ceremonial purposestrade/ jewelry/ceremonial purposes

Sankore University (Songhai): ancient Sankore University (Songhai): ancient center of learning in Timbuktu center of learning in Timbuktu