4
Salt is needed by the human bodyto help muscles and nerves to
work and to regulate blood pressure.
6
As agriculture developed, salt becamemore important. Farmers ate less meat than hunters and gatherers. Therefore, they needed more salt.
9
The WestAfrican
kingdomscontrolledimportant
trade routesthat connected
North Africaand West Africa.
10
North Africa was rich in the salt thatWest Africa lacked. West Africa was
rich in gold. The Trans-Saharan trade led to an exchange of salt for
gold.
11
Ghana was called the “land of gold”but it did not have gold. Instead,
the trade routes passed through Ghanaand the kings of Ghana taxed allentering and exiting the kingdom.
13
The kings of Ghana used their wealthto build a powerful army and keep
the peace within their empire.
14
Religious Muslims invaded anddestroyed Ghana in the 1100s
but another West African kingdomrose to power to protect
the valuable Salt for Gold Trade.
15
The Big Eight• Why is salt essential for human beings?• What did West Africa lack?• What did North Africa possess?• Describe the Trans-Saharan Trade.• Which was the first powerful West African
kingdom?• Why was Ghana called the “land of gold” if
it had no gold?• How did Ghana use its wealth?• What led to the decline of Ghana?
16
The West African Kingdom of Ghana
In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms:
The Kingdom of Ghana
“The Land of Gold”
Trans-Saharan trade
Taxation in Ghana
The Decline of Ghana
18
The Kingdom of Ghana
• In the grasslands of West Africa, a series of trading kingdoms emerged.
• The first great kingdom of West Africa was Ghana.
• Ghana was called the “land of gold” even though it did not have gold.
20
Trans-Saharan Trade
• The Kingdom of Ghana controlled the Trans-Saharan trade.
• This was a trade connecting North Africa to West Africa via the Sahara desert.
• North African nomads carried salt and other goods across the Sahara in exchange for gold.
21
West Africa lacked salt.Humans need salt to live.
Due to its importance, salt wasexchanged for gold!
22
Control of the Trade
• The Trans-Saharan trade passed through Ghana.
• Due to its location, the kings of Ghana were able to tax traders entering and exiting Ghana.
• Therefore, Ghana was able to control the trade.
24
Wealth and Power
• Wealth from trade helped Ghana maintain a powerful army.
• A powerful army allowed the kings of Ghana to expand the kingdom.
• The kings of Ghana kept the peace for many years.
26
The Decline of Ghana
• In 1076 A.D., the Almoravids invaded Ghana.
• The Almoravids were religious Muslims from North Africa.
• Ghana never fully recovered from this invasion.
28
Questions for Reflection:
• Describe Trans-Saharan trade.
• Why was the Kingdom of Ghana called the “land of gold” if it didn’t own any gold fields?
• What were the effects of the Trans-Saharan trade on the kingdom of Ghana?
• Who were the Almoravids and how did their actions affect the kingdom of Ghana?
29
The West African Kingdom of Mali
In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms:
Trans-Saharan TradeMansa MusaPilgrimage
The Five Pillars of Islam
31
Trans-Saharan Trade
• The Trans-Saharan trade was a trade across the Sahara desert.
• This trade connected North Africa and West Africa.
• North African salt and other goods were exchanged for West African gold.
33
The Kingdom of Mali
• The rulers of Mali took control of the gold fields.
• By controlling the gold fields, the rulers of Mali greatly increased the kingdom’s revenue.
• Traders entering and exiting the kingdom were also taxed.
35
Mansa Musa
• The most powerful king of Mali was Mansa Musa.
• Mansa Musa set up a great center of learning in Timbuktu.
• He also expanded the empire.
37
Conversion to Islam
• Mansa Musa converted to Islam.
• He made a pilgrimage to Mecca. Pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
• During his pilgrimage, Mansa Musa gave away a tremendous amount of gold.
38
Mansa Musa was a famous ruler ofMali. He expanded his empire,
established a great center for learning,and made a pilgrimage to Mecca.
39
The Five Pillars
• The Five Pillars of Islam:
1. Belief in One God2. Pray five times a day facing the holy city
of Mecca3. Fasting during Ramadan4. Charity to the Poor5. Pilgrimage or holy trip to Mecca
40
The Hajj isthe pilgrimageto Mecca. AMuslim must
visit Mecca, thebirthplace of theProphet, once in
his lifetime, if able.
42
Questions for Reflection:
• What was the Trans-Saharan trade and how did it increase cultural diffusion?
• Who was the most significant ruler of Mali and why was he important?
• Why did this ruler take a pilgrimage to Mecca?
• What are the Five Pillars of Islam?
43
The West African Kingdom of Songhai
In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms:
The Kingdom of Songhai
Cultural Diffusion
Monotheism
Trans-Saharan Trade
The Fall of Songhai
45
The Kingdom of Songhai
• In 1464, the people of Songhai captured Timbuktu.
• The people of Songhai seized control of the profitable Trans-Saharan trade.
• The West African Kingdom of Songhai was the largest of the three trading kingdoms.
47
Conversion to Islam
• The rulers of Songhai were Muslims.
• Many West Africans had converted to Islam. They accepted the Five Pillars of Islam and became monotheists (believers in one God).
• North Africans were Muslims. Through trade, cultural diffusion or cultural exchanges occurred.
48
North African nomadswere Muslims.
Through trade, Islamentered West Africa.
Trade increasedcultural diffusion or
the exchange of cultural ideas and
objects.
49
Trans-Saharan Trade
• Like Ghana and Mali, the kingdom of Songhai controlled the profitable Trans-Saharan trade.
• The Trans-Saharan trade connected North Africa and West Africa.
• North African salt was exchanged for West African gold.
51
The Fall of Songhai
• Eventually, the kingdom of Songhai fell to invading armies from Morocco in 1591.
• The Moroccan armies had guns.
• The Moroccans had acquired guns from Europeans.
54
Summary
• Three great West African kingdoms controlled the Trans-Saharan trade routes.
• While profiting greatly from the trade, the three kingdoms built beautiful cities and great centers of learning.
• Trade between North Africa and West Africa increased cultural diffusion.
56
Questions for Reflection:
• How did the people of Songhai gain control of the Trans-Saharan trade routes?
• What was the Trans-Saharan trade?
• Why did the Trans-Saharan trade greatly increase cultural diffusion?
• How did the introduction of Islam to West Africa affect the cultures of West Africa?
• Why did the kingdom of Songhai collapse?