Trading States and Trading States and Kingdoms East and Kingdoms East and

West AfricaWest Africa

►How will trade influence the history How will trade influence the history and culture of the African continent?and culture of the African continent?

►Commodity: a product that is Commodity: a product that is exchanged in commerceexchanged in commerce

►What commodities do we get from What commodities do we get from other nations that we cannot live other nations that we cannot live without?without?

Trade in the SaharaTrade in the Sahara

► Salt would become a major trading Salt would become a major trading commodity for human health and commodity for human health and preservation of foodpreservation of food

► By 100 A.D. farming villages in West Africa By 100 A.D. farming villages in West Africa would begin to produce surplus.would begin to produce surplus.

► Surplus food would be traded with other Surplus food would be traded with other villages for products.villages for products.

► Trade networks would eventually develop Trade networks would eventually develop linking the Savanna to rainforest regions with linking the Savanna to rainforest regions with trade networks across the Sahara to the trade networks across the Sahara to the Mediterranean and Southwest Asia.Mediterranean and Southwest Asia.

►TradTrading Gold for Salting Gold for Salt

Gold and Salt would end up dominating Gold and Salt would end up dominating the Sahara tradethe Sahara trade

Gold was widely available in the area of Gold was widely available in the area of present-day Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal.present-day Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal.

It is estimated that between 500-1600 It is estimated that between 500-1600 A.D. about 8 tons of gold were exported A.D. about 8 tons of gold were exported annually from West Africa.annually from West Africa.

►How much would a ton of gold be How much would a ton of gold be worth today?worth today?

►Price of gold per troy ounce $ 1281.10Price of gold per troy ounce $ 1281.10

29,166.667 troy ounces in a ton

In exchange for gold the West Africans In exchange for gold the West Africans would trade salt.would trade salt.

In the savanna salt was scarce but was In the savanna salt was scarce but was abundant in many parts of the Saharaabundant in many parts of the Sahara

With the prospering of this salt and gold With the prospering of this salt and gold exchange, cities emerged along the trade exchange, cities emerged along the trade routes with monarchs and kingdoms routes with monarchs and kingdoms emerging.emerging.

►GhanaGhana

Ruler and GovernmentRuler and Government

►Founders were the Soninke people Founders were the Soninke people around 800 A.D.around 800 A.D.

►Ruled by princes and officialsRuled by princes and officials

►Not the same as present day Ghana. Is Not the same as present day Ghana. Is actually present day Maliactually present day Mali

Reasons for RiseReasons for Rise

►Rich in goldRich in gold

►The kings controlled the gold and salt trade The kings controlled the gold and salt trade across West Africaacross West Africa

►Large armyLarge army

►Traded gold, precious woods, and kola nuts.Traded gold, precious woods, and kola nuts.

►Muslim merchants brought their Muslim faithMuslim merchants brought their Muslim faith

►Rulers employed Muslim language, money, and Rulers employed Muslim language, money, and business methods.business methods.

Reasons for Decline of GhanaReasons for Decline of Ghana

►About 1050 A.D. the Almoravids from About 1050 A.D. the Almoravids from North Africa attacked Ghana.North Africa attacked Ghana.

►The Almoravids tried to maintain The Almoravids tried to maintain control of trade routes but were control of trade routes but were unsuccessful.unsuccessful.

►Ghana would eventually come under Ghana would eventually come under the control of Mali.the control of Mali.

Empire of GhanaEmpire of Ghana

► MaliMali Ruler and GovernmentRuler and Government

►By 1235 A.D. Sundiata would control the West By 1235 A.D. Sundiata would control the West African gold trade to bring about the kingdom of African gold trade to bring about the kingdom of Mali.Mali.

►Mansa Musa was a capable Muslim leader who Mansa Musa was a capable Muslim leader who expanded the empire from 1312 until he died in expanded the empire from 1312 until he died in 1337.1337.

Reasons for RiseReasons for Rise

►The mansas or rulers of Mali would expand their The mansas or rulers of Mali would expand their influence over the salt and gold trade.influence over the salt and gold trade.

►Strong Mandingo leaders like Mansa Musa Strong Mandingo leaders like Mansa Musa conquered neighboring lands.conquered neighboring lands.

► Islam united the people.Islam united the people.

►Mansa Musa would create diplomatic and Mansa Musa would create diplomatic and economic ties with other Muslim countries economic ties with other Muslim countries through a hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca.through a hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca.

►Timbuktu became a great city of Muslim learning Timbuktu became a great city of Muslim learning and trade.and trade.

Reasons for DeclineReasons for Decline

►Power struggles between weaker rulers in the Power struggles between weaker rulers in the early 1400’s.early 1400’s.

Mansa MusaMansa Musa

►Timbuktu University (Sankore Mosque)Timbuktu University (Sankore Mosque)

Empire of MaliEmpire of Mali

►SonghaiSonghai

Ruler and GovernmentRuler and Government

►Sunni Ali restored order in 1464. He did Sunni Ali restored order in 1464. He did not convert to Islam but followed not convert to Islam but followed traditional beliefs.traditional beliefs.

►Askia Muhammad helped Songhai reach its Askia Muhammad helped Songhai reach its peak of power by creating a Muslim peak of power by creating a Muslim dynasty.dynasty.

►Askia Muhammad would take a pilgrimage Askia Muhammad would take a pilgrimage to Mecca creating ties to the wider Muslim to Mecca creating ties to the wider Muslim world.world.

Reasons for RiseReasons for Rise

►Developed along the fertile region of the Developed along the fertile region of the Niger River in present day Mali and Niger.Niger River in present day Mali and Niger.

►Sunni Ali captured Timbuktu and other Sunni Ali captured Timbuktu and other centers of trade.centers of trade.

►Islam under Askia Muhammad.Islam under Askia Muhammad.

Reasons for DeclineReasons for Decline

►Fell in 1591 to invaders from Morocco who Fell in 1591 to invaders from Morocco who seized the gold and salt resources.seized the gold and salt resources.

SonghaiSonghai

► BeninBenin

Ruler and GovernmentRuler and Government

►The rulers or kings were called Obas and The rulers or kings were called Obas and established their kingdom in the 1300’s.established their kingdom in the 1300’s.

►The oba was political, judicial, and religious The oba was political, judicial, and religious leader.leader.

►Power was spread among other figures including Power was spread among other figures including the queen mother and a council of hereditary the queen mother and a council of hereditary chiefs.chiefs.

►Ewuare was an Oba who established a central Ewuare was an Oba who established a central government.government.

Reasons for RiseReasons for Rise

►Arose in the rain forests of the Guinea coast.Arose in the rain forests of the Guinea coast.

►They built farming villages and traded pepper They built farming villages and traded pepper and ivory as well as slaves with their neighbors in and ivory as well as slaves with their neighbors in the savanna.the savanna.

►Ewuare captured towns and created a central Ewuare captured towns and created a central government.government.

►Benin city was a center of industry.Benin city was a center of industry.

►Known for the creation of bronze sculpturesKnown for the creation of bronze sculptures

EwuareEwuare

► City-states of East AfricaCity-states of East Africa

Ruler and GovernmentRuler and Government

►City-state: Was a large town with its own City-state: Was a large town with its own government.government.

►Became trading centers.Became trading centers.

Reasons for RiseReasons for Rise

►Cities like Malinda, Mombasa, Kilwa, and Sofala Cities like Malinda, Mombasa, Kilwa, and Sofala were major trading centers.were major trading centers.

►Arab traders bought slaves and other goods.Arab traders bought slaves and other goods.

Reasons for Decline of City-StatesReasons for Decline of City-States

►Were attacked and taken over by the Were attacked and taken over by the Portuguese in the early 1500’s.Portuguese in the early 1500’s.

City-States of East AfricaCity-States of East Africa

► Zimbabwe (Stone Houses)Zimbabwe (Stone Houses)

Rulers and GovernmentRulers and Government

►By 1300 A.D. power revolved around the By 1300 A.D. power revolved around the control of gold mines.control of gold mines.

►Rulers were probably god-kings presiding over Rulers were probably god-kings presiding over large courts.large courts.

Reasons for RiseReasons for Rise

►Gold trade made the rulers wealthy.Gold trade made the rulers wealthy.

►The international trade led to the emergence of The international trade led to the emergence of the Swahili culture-a blend of East African and the Swahili culture-a blend of East African and Arabic cultures.Arabic cultures.

Reasons for DeclineReasons for Decline

►Power struggles weakened the kingdom in the Power struggles weakened the kingdom in the 1500’s.1500’s.

►Dwindling tradeDwindling trade