West African Civilizations

By Janine G., Anfernee H., Julio G., Daniel A.

Ghana

Ghana

Ghana’s king: Tunka Manin

Ghana’s key achievements: They were very wealthy due to gold and salt trade.

Ghana

Rise of empire (Early 1000’s): The gold and salt trade made the merchants and kings wealthy, which was able to help the empire rise. Silent barter helped in this trade. Iron was also a key reason for the rise of the empire. It was ideal for weapons and tools.

Ghana

Decline of empire (Mid 1000’s): The Almoravids invaded Ghana. Their animals ate all the grass, which is overgrazing. This caused the land to be unusable. Another factor was that some people Ghana conquered rebelled against them.

Ghana

Key trading cities: Koumbi Saleh and Djenne.

Key beliefs: Many people in Ghana were Muslims. The kings did not rule all of the land, instead, there were governors who helped. Kingship passed from uncle to nephew, not father to son.

Mali

Mali

Mali’s kings: Sundiata, Mansa Musa

Mali’s key achievements: Sundiata conquered Ghana, took over salt/gold trade.

Mali

Mali’s key achievements (cont.): Mansa Musa captured trading cities like Timbuktu, gave away gold in Egypt.

Rise of empire (1300’s): Mansa Musa ruled, captured trading cities and became wealthy.

Mali

Decline of empire (1400’s): Mansa Musa died, and his son Maghan was a bad ruler. Raiders invaded and set fire to buildings. It was also too big to govern, and cities broke off. Also, Tuared attacked Timbuktu. By the 1500’s Mali was weak.

Mali

Key trading cities: Timbuktu, Gao, Djenne.

Key beliefs: A “Mansa” is a ruler. Mansa Musa supported education and encouraged Muslims to read/write Arabic. He wanted Islam to spread.

Songhai

Songhai

Songhai's kings: Sunni Ali, Asika the Great.

Songhai's key achievements: Conquered Mali, was a center of medicine and education, successful in gold and salt trade.

Songhai

Rise of Empire (1400's): Songhai grew rich from gold and salt trade, and grew into an empire. Mali needed help from Songhai to fight against invaders, but Songhai conquered Timbuktu aftterwards.

Songhai

Decline of Empire (1500's): Morocco invaded since they wanted Songhai's salt mines in 1591. Morocco took over Timbuktu and Gao, and Songhai lost power because there was less trading.

Moroccans used an arquebus, which is like a gun.

Songhai

Key trading cities: Gao, Timbuktu, Djenne

Key beliefs: Most of Songhai was Muslim. Asika the Great also believed in education and built many mosques and universities. Asika the Great also had governors and special government departments.

The end.

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