West African

Kingdoms

Mr. Barnett

Plaza MS

6th Grade

Essential Knowledge

• Ghana, Mali, and Songhai each dominated

West Africa and controlled the trade from

300 to 1600 A.D.

Key Words

• Ghana: means king

Ghana, Mali, & Songhai

Where were these empires located?

• In Western Africa

• South of the Sahara Desert

• Near the Niger River.

Portuguese

• In spite of the dangers,

Portuguese sailors

explored the west coast

of Africa, and setup

trading posts along the

way.

• The Portuguese traded

for gold, ivory, and

slaves.

Portuguese

• The Portuguese carried goods from Europe

to West African empires trading metals,

cloth, and other manufactured goods for

gold.

• The Portuguese started the Trans-Atlantic

slave trade.

• The slave trade devastated African

communities.

• It led to increased warfare among

Ghana (No notes)• Historians think the first people in Ghana were

farmers' along the Niger River.

• Ghana's rulers grew wealthy by controlling trade in

salt and gold.

Salt Mines

Salt Mines

Salt Mines

Salt Mines

Mali: “Where the King Resides”

• Mansa Musa: the King of

Mali who ruled from 1312

A.D. to 1337 A.D.

• Timbuktu: the capital of Mali

that became a great center of

learning

• Trades came to Timbuktu from

the North and South.

• Portuguese traded for salt,

gold, metals, shells, and many

other goods.

• The largest and strongest empire in West

Africa was the Songhai Empire.

• Songhai had a really strong military and

they conquered Mali.

Affect of European trade with

West African Kingdoms• Over time, the slave trade became an important part

of the West African economy.

• Kings traded slaves for valuable goods, such as

horses, textiles, and weapons from Europe.

• Ghana, Mali, and Songhai became powerful by

controlling trade in West Africa.

West African Kingdoms

Which European Nation

of dominate in

exploring West Africa?

• Portugal.

Mali Ghana Songhai

Salt Mines

West African kingdoms

• Ghana, Mali, and

Songhai were located

in the western region

of Africa, south of the

Sahara Desert, near

the Niger River.