Kingdoms of Africa:Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

Kingdom of Ghana• Western Africa, located on the Senegal River

– Emerged in 500 A.D.• 1st Great Traders of West Africa

– Gold and Salt trade• Farming communities throughout nation• Strong rulers, no laws to govern with

– Rulers acted as religious leader, judge, and military commander as well

• Well trained army to protect Kingdom• Vast wealth- resources of gold, silver, and iron

ore

Ghana Continued• Traded gold and salt but also cloth and weapons• Berbers- traders whom carried the products

across the desert– Camels heavily used– About 3 miles per hours, about 60 days to reach

destination

• Spread of Islamic ideas through trade– Literacy grew- study of the Qu’ran

Empire of Ghana• King collected taxes on all goods traded

– Usually took tax payments as gold or salt blocks• King controlled/ owned all gold

– Preventing it from losing its value at market– Type of economy- Government Controlled!

• Elaborate dress for the wealthy• 800 A.D.- reached empire status

– Smaller rulers left in place over territories• Like a bureaucracy

– Independent rulers pay tax = freedom of state

End of Ghana• Lived in luxury for hundreds of years

• Weakened by war

• Collapsed in the 1200’s- No political or cultural unity- Many different ethnic groups- Lost control on

conquered territories

Led to …..

Invasions from the Susu Kingdom and Empire of Mali

Kingdom of Mali• 12th Century

• Defeated Ghana, captured capital 1240

• Extended from Atlantic Coast to Timbuktu

• Wealth came from gold and salt trade

• Each village had its own ruler– Ruler governed and sent money to the king of

Mali

Mansa

• Meaning “ruler”• Major Ruler- Sundiata

– provided wealth and power to empire– re-organized government– Capital- Niani

• moved government westward provided more trading posts

Mansa Musa• Powerful king, 1312- 1337• Extended kingdom (double

the size)• Strong central govt.,

kingdom divided into provinces

• Timbuktu- Islamic learning center– Pilgrimage to Mecca, wanted

education in Mali– Built mosques and libraries

• Civil War, 1359 divided Mali, beginning of the end

However, the Empire of Mali would eventually quicken

Reasons

1)Poor Leadership - spent money irresponsibility on personal extravagant items and lifestyles

2)There was no clear line of succession-who becomes the next king when the old king dies?

3)Noblemen secluded the Mansas from their people and took authority in his absence.

IT KIND OF REMINDS YOU OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kingdom of Songhai• Niger River Valley

– Land very fertile (yearly flooding)

• Islamic kingdom• Benefited from Muslim trade routes• Askia the Great- expanded the kingdom, 1464

– Cities- Timbuktu and Jenne– Created a professional army– Gave total control of trade routes to Songhai– Ruled for over 30 years

Songhai Continued• Muhammad Ture- Golden Age ruler

• Expansion, peaceful and secure time

• After his reign the empire entered into a decline

• By 1600- Songhai completely declined– Lacked modern weapons (Guns)– Overthrown finally by North African armies