Transcript Document
African Kingdom Project Notes • Timelines • Rulers- important ones with some information • Map • Major trade items- Exports and Imports • Religion- Official and Unofficial Kingdom of Ghana The Rise • By 800 CE rulers had united farming villages to create the kingdom of Ghana. Senegal and Niger rivers Bustling Trade • Ghana profited from the gold and salt trade across the Sahara- Research to find more trade items for Ancient Ghana • Flow of gold was high, because it met in the middle of the Arab traders and the West African Gold rich lands of the Maninka • Capital: Kumbi Saleh • two separate walled towns, royal palace, and domed buildings • The King was a semi-divine figure, who presided over justice and order “Ghana”=Arabic word meaning “ruler” Click on Ghana to learn more! • Islamic faith was brought to Ghana by Islamic traders. • The King employed Muslims as counselors and officials => written language, coins, business methods, architecture. • But Ghanains mostly they followed their own beliefs=> Soninke They did not adopt Islam as the official religion • 1050 CE the Almoravids- the pious Muslims of north Africa had launched a campaign to spread Islam. • Ghana was swallowed up into Mali….. Empire of Mali • Mali is an Arab version of the Mandinka word meaning “where the king dwells” Mali Scavenger Hunt • After the fall of Ghana, the Mandinke people suffered defeat from a rival leader • The king and all his sons, except one (Sundiata) were executed • We will read the Epic of Sundiata next week Gold and salt trade Malian Trade Routes Mansa Musa: the great king of Mali- comes to the thrown in 1312 CE ”Mansa” means “King” Click on Mansa Musa to learn more about Mali! Expansion and the Hajj • 25 year reign-expanded Mali’s borders toward the Atlantic ocean • Ibn Battuta • Converted to Islam and based the system of Justice on the Quran-did not adopt all of the customs of Islam ex.women • 1324 CE- Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) • The Hajj takes 1 year • Forged new ties with other muslim states • Movement of wealth, people and ideas increased Mali’s fame • Timbuktu is at its height Decline • In the 1400s, disputes of succession weakened Mali- Fight over who would rule- Roman Empire? • Subject peoples broke away, and the empire shriveled • By 1450 a new wealthy trading city had emerged in Gao => The Songhai Empire! • The conde (Conday) mask of the Maninka empire Songhai • http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultur al/oldworld/africa/songhai.html • link Zimbabwe • ://www.tanzaniaweb.com/www.africanet.com/africanet/ country/zimbabwe/history.htm Zimbabwe • Rulers• 1100 to 1450 AD • local agricultural trade, in which cattle were especially important • Great birds thought to represent the rulers of Zimbabwe • Began its decline due to over population and trade routes moving off to the north (1 Theory) Kongo • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_o f_Kongo • http://www.answers.com/topic/kingdo m-of-kongo