The Empire of GhanaP2

8/14/2019 The Empire of GhanaP2

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The Empire of GhanaThe Empire of GhanaEnduring Understandings:Enduring Understandings:

Natural Resources and geographicNatural Resources and geographic

features contribute to success in tradefeatures contribute to success in tradeTrade results in the blending ofTrade results in the blending of

cultural traditions and belief systemscultural traditions and belief systems
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Do NowDo Now

On a scrap piece ofOn a scrap piece of

paper answer thepaper answer the

following question:following question:

How did geographyHow did geography

effect the locationeffect the location

of the empire ofof the empire of

Ghana?Ghana?

Ghana


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The Foundation of the Empire

The empire of Ghanaexisted between 300-1267 CE

Became wealthy bycontrolling thenatural resourcesavailable and taxingtraders

Ghana was primarilylocated in thesavannah of Africa


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Ghanas Northern BorderGhanas Northern Border

Northern Ghanabordered Sahara;ideal hub for salt,gold trade

-served as traderegulators of saltfrom north, goldfrom south

- kept gold sourcesecret and limitedsupply; increased

trade value


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Ghanas Southern BorderGhanas Southern Border

Southern Ghana was border by theSouthern Ghana was border by the

Niger river and the rainforests.Niger river and the rainforests.

The Rainforests contained gold, theThe Rainforests contained gold, the

kings of Ghana decided to hide thekings of Ghana decided to hide the

location of the mines a secret in orderlocation of the mines a secret in order

to control the value of the goldto control the value of the gold


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Ghanas KingsGhanas Kings

Ghana received its name from theGhana received its name from thepeople who inhabited the land.people who inhabited the land.Ghana is what the people calledGhana is what the people called

their king.their king.The kings were responsible for keepingThe kings were responsible for keeping

trade running smoothly and playing antrade running smoothly and playing an

important role in the relgious life ofimportant role in the relgious life ofthe people. Kings performed thethe people. Kings performed theproper prayers and rituals to make theproper prayers and rituals to make theland fertile and to bring prosperity toland fertile and to bring prosperity to

the peoplethe people


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Empire of GhanaEmpire of Ghana

Ghana became wealthyfor several reasons: Koumbi Saleh

(popl.15,000), Ghanas

capital was located atthe crossroads of severalmajor trade routes.

The king controlled thesecret of the gold mines,

therefore controlled theprice of gold

The king taxed tradersand collected tributesfrom conquered peoples


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Kingdom to EmpireKingdom to Empire

Once the kindgom of Ghana becameOnce the kindgom of Ghana became

wealthy, the king took the opportunitywealthy, the king took the opportunity

to begining to expand its borders byto begining to expand its borders by

conquering lands surrounding theconquering lands surrounding theempire.empire.

By acquiring more lands the kingdomBy acquiring more lands the kingdom

became even more wealthy and as abecame even more wealthy and as aresult grew even further resulting in anresult grew even further resulting in an

empireempire


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Religious and Cultural Changes

Berbers, Islam, Arabicgreatly influencedempires of West Africa

BerbersNorthAfricans who developedtrade routes, raisedcamels

- spoke Arabic,practiced Islam, workedwith Umayyads inAfrican trade


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BerbersBerbers

Berbers broughtwriting (Arabic),Islam, scholars to

West Africa- some Ghana kingsconverted to Islam,used Arabic in

government


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Influence of Islamic BeliefsInfluence of Islamic Beliefs

Some Ghana kingsSome Ghana kingsconverted to Islamconverted to Islambut kept somebut kept sometraditional beliefs intraditional beliefs in

order to keep theorder to keep thesupport of theirsupport of theirsubjectssubjects

-belief that ancestry-belief that ancestrygave king right togave king right to

rule was maintainedrule was maintained


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Influence of Islamic BeliefsInfluence of Islamic Beliefs

Muslims gainedMuslims gainedpower in Ghanapower in Ghanagovernment,government,advised kingsadvised kings

Ghana 's upperGhana 's upperclass acceptedclass acceptedIslam, learnedIslam, learnedArabic, read Qur'anArabic, read Qur'an

Islamic ethics, orIslamic ethics, orbeliefs, influencedbeliefs, influencedthe law and culturethe law and culture

in Ghanain Ghana


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Ghana Under AttackGhana Under Attack

Despite Islams influenceDespite Islams influenceGhana declinedGhana declined

AlmoravidsAlmoravids North AfricanNorth AfricanMuslims who came to powerMuslims who came to powerin 11th centuryin 11th century

-Almoravids were camel-Almoravids were camelherders who envied Ghanaherders who envied Ghana's wealth's wealth

-wanted Muslims to follow-wanted Muslims to followtheir interpretation of Islamtheir interpretation of Islam

Almoravids attacked Ghana,Almoravids attacked Ghana,weakened trade networkweakened trade network Ghana crumbled;Ghana crumbled;

Almoravids seized capital inAlmoravids seized capital in10761076

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The Empire of GhanaP2