West Africa

Chapter 1Section 2

Like all of Africa, West Africa is ethnically,

culturally and geographically diverse

West Africa included three great Ancient civilizations

Ghana, Mali and Songhai

West African Civilizations

The kingdom of Ghana became rich from trade

Their kings were known in Europe and the Middle East as some of the richest monarchs in the world

The use of the Asian camel allowed for trade across the Sahara to N. Africa

Ancient Ghana

The people of Ghana exported slaves, gold

and pepper

They traded with the Roman Empire and the Berbers- the indigenous people of N. Africa

When the Romans power declined trade with Muslim merchants took its place

Ancient Ghana

Mali replaced Ghana as the chief economic

power in West Africa

Mali was further South than Ghana in an area of greater rainfall which allowed them to grow more crops and support a larger population

Mali was a Muslim Empire that had great wealth

The Empire of Mali (1230-1468)

Mali’s wealthiest city was Timbuktu along the Niger

river

Timbuktu was a major center for trade particularly in slaves, gold and salt

It was also a cultural center that included mosques, a law schools and book dealers

The city was renown for their religious and ethnic tolerance

The Empire of Mali

After the death of their greatest ruler Mansa

Musa Mali declined and was taken over by one of their subject peoples the Songhai

The Empire of Mali

The Songhai people were great warriors and

traders

They became the largest of the West African Empires

Although they were officially a Muslim Empire outside of the cities 95% of the people remained bound to their many different traditional religions

The Empire of Songhai (1464-1591)

Europeans began rapidly establishing trade

centers on the coast which threatened the N. African trade partners of the Songhai

The king of Morocco sent an army armed with cannons and muskets to regain access to the gold in the area

The Songhai hadn’t developed firearms and were defeated

The Empire of Songhai

With their army defeated the Songhai Empire

fell apart

There was no government powerful enough to intervene when Europeans and kingdoms of the Guinea Coast became more interested in the slave trade than gold

Europeans gain power in W. Africa

1. What were the three empires of W. Africa?

2. How and why was Timbuktu a major center of trade and cultural exchange?

3. What was the source of these West African civilizations wealth?

4. What did they trade?

5. Explain how Europeans came to dominate the trade of West Africa?

Assignment