Transcript Muslim Empires of West Africa

Muslim Empires
of West Africa
Rise of Mali
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Once Ghana falls small Kingdoms began to
compete for power
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Sumanguru took control of an area of land
home to the Malinke people
Sundiata
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Led a rebellion in 1230 to free the people under
Sumanguru’s power
Took over the area formally belonging to
Ghana and added more
Area became Kingdom of Mali
Rise of Mali
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New Empire
Sundiata was a wise ruler
Called himself “Mansa”
Ruled with an assembly of kings
 Created
laws that divided roles and
responsibilities among clans
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Mali gained control of gold producing
regions and trade routes
Mali at its Height
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Mansa Musa
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Emperor from 1312-1337
Most prosperous period in Kingdom’s history
Enlarged kingdom
Transformed kingdom into center of Muslim
learning and art
Hajj= religious journey to Mecca
Travel to Mecca in 1324
 Spent so much gold along the way he gained
the attention of Europeans
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Mali at its Height
 Muslim
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Culture in Mali
Mansa Musa returned home to Mali with
Muslim scholars, artists, and teachers
Built many mosques in Mali
Tombouctou became a center for Islamic
learning
 Expansion
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of Mali
Largest empire of the time
Population roughly 50 million people
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“Salt comes from the
north, gold from the
south, and silver from
the country of the
white men, but the
word of God and the
treasures of wisdom
are only to be found
in Tombouctou”
Rise of the Songhai
 1300’s
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Mali controlled cities along the Niger River
including Gao the capital of Songhai
Mali looses power of Gao and Songhai
grows in power under Ali
 Conquests
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of Ali
1464 Ali Ber became king of Songhai
Great military leader
1468 took control of Tombouctou”
Rise of the Songhai
 The
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largest empire
Songhai rulers continued to conquer more
territory
Askia Muhammad
 Successful
military leader
 Set up a government to unite the region
 Used weights to measure currency
 Strengthened Islam within the empire
Rise of the Songhai
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Islamic law and scholarship
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Askia strengthened Islamic influence within
Songhai
Appointed Muslim judges who based lase on
Quran
 Laws were written in Arabic
 Arabic provided a common language for
traders in W. Africa
 Commercial success soared
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Decline of Songhai
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Askia’s sons competed for power once he
became unfit to rule
1591 soldiers from Morocco invaded Songhai
and the kingdom was over powered
Legacy of Empires
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Millions of Africans speak the languages of
Mali and Songhai
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Families form the basis of modern African
society
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Griots- professional stortellers who are the
keepers of West African history
Markets and farming remain key parts of African
economy
Islam continues to be a major religion in west
Africa