West Civilizations of Africa Ghana, Mali, and Songhai Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

West Civilizations West Civilizations of Africaof Africa

  Ghana, Mali, and SonghaiGhana, Mali, and Songhai

Ghana(500-1050 A.D)

Developed in the upper Niger River

• Greatest achievement was in the area of trade. • They crossed the Sahara and trade with North Africa,

the Middle East, and East Africa. • They traveled across the Sahara by camel caravanscamel caravans

(“ships of the desert”).“ships of the desert”). • Major products traded were gold, salt, and slaves.gold, salt, and slaves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x-IwaVhnmo&feature=related

Mali (1250-1360) Extended from Timbuktu to Atlantic Ocean

• They conquered Ghana. • Expanded the size of the kingdom and continued the trade

routes. • Sundiata established the Mali Empire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuhVN5b8AFY

Islam in the Mali Empire

• The greatest achievement was the adoption of Islam as their official religion.

• The leader responsible for this was Mansa Mansa MusaMusa.

• Impacts of converting to Islam:– tolerance and equality– decrease in tribal problems– an increased emphasis on education.

the Mosque of Djenne

• The city of Timbuktu was their main city.

• The first universities universities in Western Africa were built in this city.

• This city became the center of trade and learning.

• Islam expanded as did trade.

• TimbuktuTimbuktu was one of the most prosperous cities in Africa.

Songhai(1464-1600)

• Developed along the Niger River• Expanded to the Atlantic Ocean

• Largest kingdom in African history

• Extensive network of trade

• West Africa reached the height of prosperity and cultural achievement under this civilization.

• Sunni Ali expanded the empire, and Mohammed Ture brought peace and prosperity.

• The biggest problem during this time period was the start of the Atlantic Slave Trade.

• The Songhai traded slaves, with Europeans; this ultimately led to the downfall of African independence in West Africa.

• The Songhai Empire collapsed when the Moroccans used superior weaponry to seize power and when maritime trade routes replaced trans-Sahara trade routes.

The African Slave TradeThe African Slave Trade

• There were 2 different Slave Trades that existed in Africa

• The Trans- Atlantic slave trade to the Americas which lasted for just over three centuries,

• the Trans-Sahara slave trade which has lasted fourteen centuries, and in some parts of the Muslim world is still continuing to this day. (Arab slave trade)

• slaves were obtained from along the west coast of Africa with the full and active co-operation of African kings and merchants.

• African’s traded Slaves for goods like beads, cowrie shells (used as money), textiles, brandy, horses, and perhaps most importantly, guns.

• Africans were used primarily for Plantation work in the Caribbean, and Brazil

• The mortality ratemortality rate for slaves being transported across the Atlantic was as high as 10%, the percentage of slaves dying in transit in the Trans Sahara trade was between 80 and 90%!

• The slaves shipped across the Atlantic were for agricultural work, the slaves destined for the Muslim Middle East were for sexual exploitation as concubines and Eunichs, in harems, and for military service.

• Slaves who went to the Americas could marry and have families, slaves destined for the Middle East were castrated, and most of the children born to the women were killed at birth.

• It is estimated that possibly as many as 11 million Africans were transported across the Atlantic, however, at least 28 million Africans were enslaved in the Muslim Middle East.

• As at least 80% of those captured by Muslim slave traders were calculated to have died before reaching the slave markets, it is believed that the death toll was over 112 million people.

• While Christian Reformers started anti-slavery movements in Europe and North America, there was no opposition to slavery within the Muslim world.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA4LOnxWVhw&NR=1

• African CultureAfrican Culture • 1. Animism: 1. Animism: The religion of traditional

Africans was based on the belief that spirits inhabited all living things. Nature was to be treated with respect, (Worshipped), as were their ancestors and elders.

• 2. Extended Families: 2. Extended Families: The people in Africa had to pool their labor and resources to survive. The conditions were too harsh for people to survive on their own.

MaliMali•

TimbuktuTimbuktu

• •

Djingareyber MosquePalace and Mosque of Musa

East African CivilizationsEast African Civilizations • A. Egypt B. Kush C. AxumA. Egypt B. Kush C. Axum

• Egypt was called the Gift of the NileGift of the Nile. Without the Nile river civilization would not have been able to develop. Egypt is located in the Sahara desert.

How was Egypt able to develop into one of How was Egypt able to develop into one of the greatest civilizations in the world?the greatest civilizations in the world?

• The Nile River overflowed each year at the same time. The river not only provided water, but a new layer of topsoil was deposited each year as a result of the floods. This combined with the fact that it was hot year round allowed for a surplus of food.

• Achievements of the Egyptians: Achievements of the Egyptians: • a. Writing - used hieroglyphicshieroglyphics to keep records and

record history. • b. Architecture - famous for the construction of the

pyramids. • c. Calendar - developed a calendar that accurately

predicted the floods.

Mummification

• http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/mummies/explore/main.html

Luxor• Google Image Result for http://www.imagesofanthropology.com/images/g.Temple_of_Luxor_Egy

pt_image_2.jpg

Egyptian AchievementsEgyptian Achievements

• Egyptian writing known as hieroglyphs, thought to be the world's earliest known writing system

• They performed surgery, setting of bones and had knowledge of pharmacopoeia

• The science of engineering was a major accomplishment

Hieroglyphics

•

Rosetta StoneRosetta Stone

• Ancient KushAncient Kush: Greatest achievement was the development of Iron tools and weapons. This development brought them great wealth and power. They also developed an alphabet that was easier than the hieroglyphics of the Egyptians.

• Ancient AxumAncient Axum: The greatest difference of Axum was that they were the first to convert to Christianity in Africa. They were also great sailors and traded with Asia, and the Middle East.

• South African CivilizationsSouth African Civilizations • Zimbabwe: South of the Zambezi River

on Africa’s east coast existed the most prosperous civilization in this region from the 12th through the 15th century. The capital, known as Great Great ZimbabweZimbabwe, was built on the gold trade and cattle herding.

• The Bantu Civilization The Bantu Civilization • The Bantu people originated in western

Africa and migrated throughout the eastern and southern parts of Africa.

• The Bantu are responsible for spreading many ideas throughout the areas of Africa they settled.

• They are responsible for spreading farming techniques (slash and burn), the use of iron, cattle, as well as language (Swahili). The Bantu migration helped bring about cultural diffusion in a region that was traditionally diverse.

Bantu Migration

•