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