Transcript Islamic Achievements - Santa Ana Unified School District

The Growth of Islam
in West Africa
Section 1
Standard 7.4.4
• Trace the growth of the Arabic language in
government, trade, and Islamic
scholarship in West Africa.
Section Focus Question
• How did the Songhai Empire contribute
to the spread of Islam and Arabic?
Background Knowledge
• In the previous lesson you learned that
Arab traders brought Islam to West Africa.
This section, will discuss the rise of the
largest West African empire: Songhai. In
addition, we will learn how Islam and the
Arabic language spread throughout West
Africa.
The Rise of Songhai
• In the 1300s, Mali controlled trading cities along
the Niger River. One of these cities was Gao,
the capital of the Muslim kingdom of Songhai.
When Mali weakened in the 1400s, Songhai
grew in power. Under a leader named Sunni Ali
Ber, it became the center of a new empire.
A Great King
• In 1464, Sunni Ali Ber “Ali the Great.”
becomes king
– a Muslim and a great military leader.
– Army of swift horsemen and war canoes
• extended Songhai’s empire along the Niger River’s
Great Bend.
The Conquest of Timbuktu
• Crossroad of gold from the south and salt from the north
taken over by nomadic raiders known as the Tuaregs.
• In 1468, Sunni Ali Ber’s army approached Timbuktu
• cavalry, or mounted troops, carried swords and long
spears. infantry, or foot soldiers, were armed with bows
and poison arrows.
The Conquest of Timbuktu
• the Tuaregs fled and the troops looted the city killing
many people.
• Scholars described Sunni Ali as a A tyrant is a cruel
ruler who uses his power without any limits.
– supporters called him “the most high” and praised him for his
military victories.
The Siege of Djenné
The Siege of Djenné
• Wealthy trading city
• Surrounded by water, It was well defended
and had never been conquered.
• A siege is a military plan in which the
attacking army cuts off supplies to the
defenders.
– surrendered after seven years, seven months,
and seven days.
• Dominated the trans-Sahara trading routes.
– Through continuing conquest by later
rulers, Songhai eventually became the
largest of trading empires of West Africa.
Checkpoint
• How did Sunni Ali Ber control his
growing empire?
The Spread of Islam and
Arabic
• Even though Islam influenced life in Songhai
many people in nearby lands still practiced their
old religions.
• A devout Muslim named Aski Muhammad took
control of Songhai and set out to conquer new
lands and spread Islam even farther.
Pilgrimage and War
• Took 300,000 pieces of gold
– gave most of it away.
• Upon his return from Mecca, he launched an attack
on the Mossi people, who lived south of Songhai.
– remained independent and kept its traditional faith.
• In other cases, however, Askia Muhammad did
expand the Songhai Empire.
Islamic Law and Scholarship
• Askia Muhammad strengthened Islam within
Songhai.
• appointed Islamic judges to enforce laws
based on the Qur’an
– Songhai’s laws were written in Arabic
• He supported Islamic scholarship through
money and gifts
• Songhai’s scholars learned to read and write
Arabic so they could study the Qur’an.
Islamic Law and Scholarship
• Scholars copied old manuscripts and wrote
new books in Arabic.
– Timbuktu became a leading center of Islamic
learning.
• However, not only scholars used Arabic. Other
people in Timbuktu could read and write
Arabic.
– This knowledge was useful in both religion and
business.
• Arabic provided a common language for
traders to arrange deals and to keep records.
The Decline of Songhai
• Armed with guns, soldiers from Morocco
invaded and overpowered the Songhai
warriors in 1591.
• The Moroccans captured Timbuktu and
other cities
– its once-thriving cities gradually declined.
Looking Back and Ahead
• In this section, you learned how Songhai
became great empire. This Muslim empire
strengthened Islam and the Arabic
language in West Africa. In the next section,
you will explore the society and economy of
West Africa.
Checkpoint
• How was Arabic important in Songhai?