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Western African Civilizations: Ghana, Mali, & Songhai
Bantu
Group of people who originally live in West Africa Migrated in search of
fertile land Spread their knowledge
of farming, ironworking, & LANGAUGE across the continent
Today almost 1/3 of Africans speak a language derived from the Bantu
Ghana
The first of the West African trading kingdoms Through weapon making technology (iron
smelting), Ghanaian warriors expanded boundaries Gained control over trade routes
Ghana
Gold Salt Trade Location! Location! Location!
Ghana was located in the midway between Saharan salt mines and tropical gold mines
Caravans of Muslim merchants brought goods, which Ghanaian people exchanged for gold Trade conducted via the silent trade Muslims brought their religion to the people of
Ghana
Mali
Mansa Musa Devout Muslim king
Bases legal and justice system on the Qur’an Makes hajj to Mecca, but stops in Egypt first
Gives Egypt so much gold that the value of gold declines for 10 straight years
Traveled with 12,000 servants each wearing silk & carrying gold bars, which were given to the poor
Mali
Mansa Musa Brings back Islamic scholars and architects
to Mali Has Timbuktu built Timbuktu
Center of learning and art Increased Islamic influence in West Africa
Use of credit Written contracts Education for many classes
Timbuktu
Timbuktu
Ibn Battuta
Moroccan born traveler and explorer Travel the Islamic world from North Africa to
China Spent 30 years traveling His primary source writings inform
historians about the Muslim world in Africa
Songhai
The largest of the 3 major West African kingdoms
Took control of Timbuktu Expanded trade to Europe and Asia
Time of great cultural diffusion Askia Muhammad sets up high functioning
bureaucracy 5 provinces each with
A governor Tax collector Judges (Like Mansa Musa, had laws based on Qur’an) Trade inspectors
The East African Kingdoms: The Shona of Great Zimbabwe & Axum
Axum (Aksum)
Religions Christianity made the official religion after
shipwrecked Syrians introduced it However…
Both Axumites & Egyptians viewed Jesus differently than Rome Jesus was completely divine. Not human; 100% godly Started a new Christian Church THE COPTIC CHURCH
Axum
Religions Muslim merchants brought trade and Islam
Christian and Muslim merchants fought over control of trade routes
In order to ensure Islam did not spread into Axum Government reorganized to extend into outlying areas Monasteries built to teach the Coptic Christian faith Built churches
More churches per square mile in Ethiopia than any other country in the world today
Axum
Architecture Used stone instead of mud bricks to construct
buildings (unique for this part of the world) Stelae obelisk shaped pillars built to celebrate
king’s conquests and Axum’s greatness
Axum
The Shona of Great Zimbabwe Rise to Power
Originally derived wealth from herds of cattle Then found gold in
central part of kingdom Location, Location,
Location Like Ghana located
between trading posts, but on Indian Ocean
Evidence of trade with Syria, and Persia
The Shona of Great Zimbabwe The Great Enclosure
Massive wall 4-stories high and 15 feet thick Protected the king Stonework so precise that no mortar was needed
The Shona of Great Zimbabwe Cities
Consisted of two parts Residences for the elite
Homes made of stone Residences for the
commoners Homes made of mud
and thatch
The Shona & Great Zimbabwe Disappearance
Left the Great Enclosure for reasons unknown Historians best guess…
Cattle overgrazed and the Shona need to find new land to feed it’s people
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