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NAME    DATE    CLASS 

Exploring the Americas

Geography and History Activity

Lesson 1 A Changing World

Cultural Diffusion: Kingdoms and Empires in AfricaBeginning in the a.d. 600s until about the 1000s, Berber traders carried salt  southward across the Sahara, where they traded it for gold. They then returned across the Sahara to North Africa. Merchants in Ghana brought gold from the south and traders brought salt from the north. The salt-for-gold trade was carried on with the kingdom of Ghana. Ghana grew rich by taxing these purchases. After Ghana lost power, trade took place with the kingdom of Mali.

  Islam was the religion practiced in North Africa. Over time, the Berbers adopted the religion too. By doing business in trading centers in West Africa, the Berbers introduced Islam there as well. The spread of religion along trade routes is one example of cultural diffusion.  

KanoNiani

Ghat

Cairo

CyreneTripoli

TunisAlgiers

Tombouctou(Timbuktu)

Djenné

KumbiSaleh

Marrakech

AT L AN T I CO CE AN

Mediterranean SeaN

ile R

.

Niger R.

S A H A R AD E S E R T

N

SE

W

DOPA (Discovering our Past - American History)

RESGChapter 2Map Title: African Trading EmpiresFile Name: C02-11A-NGS-877712_A_2ndUSE.aiMap Size: 39p6 x 28p0

Date/Proof: March 24, 2011 - First Proof

Notes:

Ghana, 400–1200Mali, 1250–1500Songhai, 1500–1600Trade routeCity

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NAME    DATE    CLASS 

Exploring the Americas

Geography and History Activity Cont.

Directions: Answer the following questions.

Understanding the Concept1. Identifying Which cities are north of the Sahara? Which are south of the Sahara? 

2. Describing What was the general direction of the trade routes?

3. Explaining Read the last sentence of the paragraph. What is given as an example of cultural diffusion? Write your own definition of cultural diffusion, based on this example and on your knowledge of what makes up a culture,

Applying the Concept4. Comparing Look at the map. How were Timbuktu, Ghat, and Tunis connected?

5. Synthesizing Why were traders, such as the Berbers, necessary for cultural diffusion?

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