15-2 West African Civilizations

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15-2 West African Civilizations
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Gold-Salt Trade
Berbers
SALT
GOLD
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Ghana

• Gains power by taxing trade caravans
• Trade Gold Salt
• People wanted gold, Ghana needed salt
• Circular trade of goods b/w Africa the
  Mediterranean
• 800s Ghanas kings ruled taxes gifts
• Limited supplies of gold to keep prices up WHY?

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Islamic Influences

• Spread
• North Africa Conquest
• Sub-Sahara Trade
• Faith introduced by settling merchants
• Muslim advisors influenced the kings of Ghana
• Many maintain belief in animism
• Spirits of living things hold a spiritual powers
• Almoravid conquest of Ghana disrupts trade

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Mali

• Kingdom founded by the Mande-speaking peoples
• Wealth built on gold trade routes shift
• 1st great leader Sundiata
• Conquers Ghana
• Establishes peace prosperity
• Established an effective, sophisticated government

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Mansa Musa

• Brought stability to Mali after death of Sundiata
• Skilled military leader who controlled the
  gold-salt trade
• Governed empire through provinces
• Devout Muslim undertook a hajj
• Timbuktu becomes a major place for trade
  learning

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Mali Empire 13c-15c
SALT
GOLD
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Timbuktu-Heavenly Clay
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Timbuktu Rooftop, Mosque
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Ibn Battuta

• Traveling historian from Tangier, North Africa
• Devout Muslim
• Explored the Islamic world for 27 years
• Wrote extensively about his travels
• Timbuktu Mali (p. 416)
• Reached China wrote about their culture

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Ibn Battutas Journey
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Songhai

• Power controlled trade routes
• 1464 Sunni Ali builds empire through conquest
• Professional army that was mobile
• Captured Timbuktu (Malis capital
• Acquired Djenné through marriage (trade city)

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Songhai Empire 15c-16c
SALT
GOLD
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Askia Muhammad Governs Well

• Askia Muhammad Overthrew Alis son for power
• Excellent administrator efficient tax system
  specialized officials
• Collapses due to lack of modern weapons
• 1591 Defeated by Moroccan invaders with guns

Askia Mohammeds Tomb 1443-1538
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Hausa City-States

• Society grouped by a common language
• Local rulers controlled farm lands from walled
  cities w/ horsed-armies
• Wealth Farming Trade
• Kano Katsina (major trade outposts)
• Slave Trade
• Zazzau sells captives to other city-states for
  goods

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Yoruba

• Collection of farming states in the area of
  Nigeria Benin
• Ifo Oyo largest kingdoms
• Kings religious political leaders
• Descended from 1st ruler of Ife (religious
  authority)
• Secret society of political religious figures
  limit kings
• Cities (centers of trade) supported by farms
  growth, trade, art

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Benin

• Began in the 1200s near the Niger Delta
• Ruled based on descent
• 1400s Major state powerful army
• Lagos to Niger Delta
• Artistic culture brass copper
• 1480s Benin begin trading with Portugal
• Beginning of the slave trade

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Benin Empire 15c-19c
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Key Idea
In West Africa three empiresGhana, Mali, and
Songhaithrive by controlling the trade of gold
and salt. Muslim merchants and teachers bring
Islam to West Africa. Other major states develop
there, including the Hausa city-states, the
Yoruba kingdoms of Ife and Oyo, and Benin.
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Overview
Ghana Mali Sundiata Mansa Musa Ibn
Battuta Songhai Hausa Yoruba Benin
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
West Africa contained several powerful empires
and states, including Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
These empires demonstrate the richness of African
culture before European colonization.
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Copy this graphic into your notes to help
organize your thoughts. List characteristics of
stateless societies.
Both
Broke away from Mali had war canoes, mobile
horseback fighters, and strong centralized
government
Revived salt/gold trade, had strict judicial
system, built mosques, visited by Ibn Battuta
Controlled Timbuktu, had strong leaders, created
Muslim empires, dominated trade
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2
Section
Assessment
2.  Which of the twothe Yoruba people or the
people of Beninhad more influence on the other?
Explain. THINK ABOUT
when the kingdoms flourished
political traditions of each
artistic traditions of each
ANSWER
The Yoruba people had more influencetheir
kingdoms flourished earlier. Benins kings
claimed descent from a Yoruba king. Benins
artists claimed to have learned from Yoruba
artists.
Possible Responses
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2
Section
Assessment
3.  What do you think was the most effective
method Ghana used to regulate its economy?
Explain. THINK ABOUT
trade routes
ownership of gold
taxes
ANSWER
Controlling trade routes, because Ghanas
rulers could grow rich by taxing traders. The
law that only the king could own gold nuggets,
because it kept inflation down. Laws and
practices ensuring fair trade and deterring
bandits, because they helped trade thrive.
Possible Responses
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• http//www.classzone.com/webquest/MC_interactives/
  MT_03_traroutes/MT_03_087_traroutes.html