THE AFRICAN EMPIRES

I. Africa – Prior Knowledge

the birthplace of humankindGreat Rift Valley (map, p. 224)“Eve” hypothesis – suggests that all modern humans are

descended from a single African woman Egyptian Civilization

emerged on the Nile River in the 4th millennium BCE influenced the development of religion, commerce,

philosophy, art, science & mathematics throughout the Mediterranean, the Middle East & Europe

ruler = pharaoh (“great house”)writing = hieroglyphicsGreat Pyramids at Giza

religious beliefs – indigenous & Islamic

The Ancient West African Empires

II. Ancient Ghana west African empire (see map, p. 230) Ghana = Soninke word for “king” was a wealthy kingdom, built through trade

traded in cotton, glass beads, horses, and SALT; also exported slaves & gold

used camels for transportation across the desert capital: Kumbi Saleh

population = 20,000 influence of Islamic culture, including the introduction of

Arabic writing ancient Ghana was destroyed by Islamic invaders

in the late 11th century CE

III. Mali (1230-1468) founded by Sundiata

was Muslim, and made Mali a Muslim state Mali means “where the emperor resides”

map, p. 230 was a populous and wealthy empire Timbuktu: the most important city

impt. for trade in gold, slaves & salt was a center for Islamic learning & culture

○ one of the most famous libraries of the ancient world was located in Timbuktu

Mansa Musa – the most famous ruler “mansa” means king doubled the size of Mali made a pilgrimage to Mecca

IV. Songhai (1464-1591) leader: Sunni Ali

conquered Timbuktu in 1468 were great traders & warriors Askia Muhammad Toure replaced Sunni Ali in 1492

expanded the Songhai empire established a bureaucracy to regulate trade was a devout Muslim

capital: Gao (map, p. 230) Songhai was destabilized when the Portuguese began

to establish trading centers along the coast (the Gold Coast) eventually, the Gold Coast became known as the Slave

Coast; it was the point of origin for the Middle Passage