Transcript The Empires of Mali and Songhai

The Empires of Mali and
Songhai
I. Mali Builds on Ghana’s
Foundation
A. Sundiata- chief of the
Malinke people.
 Establishes Mali and
pushes its borders
through Ghana and
beyond.
 Opens up gold for salt
trade and expands
trade roots.
Mali continued: Sundiata
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Established Timbuktu
 Location - Niger
River
 Important for Islam
Supported growing of
food crops and cotton.
Mixed traditional beliefs
with Islam.
Map of Mali
I. Mali Builds on Ghana’s
Foundation (continued)
A.
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Rise of Mansa Musa
1307- Mali’s most
famous ruler comes to
power, Mansa Musa.
Was Muslim, but
allowed his followers
to practice their own
religions.
Name means King
Moses.
Mansa Musa
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Pilgrimage
As a Muslim, Mansa Musa made the Hajj. He
arrived in Mecca and brought with him:
 12,000 slaves, 80 camels, 300 pounds of
gold.
 In front of him on the pilgrimage, he had
500 slaves dressed in silk, carrying gold
staffs.
II. Decline of Mali
A. Internal Problems
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When Mansa Musa died,
family argued over who
was next in line.
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Newly conquered regions
began to rebel.
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In East, Songhai people
gained strength.
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In 1325, Mali captured
Songhai city of Gao.
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40 years later, Gao was
independent of Mali
B.External problems
• Beber nomads came
from the North and
Eventually captured
Timbuktu.
•In the south, bandits raid
caravans and military
outposts.
•By 1500, Mali had been
pushed back into it’s
original borders, no longer
a strong empire.
III. The Empire of Songhai
A. Songhai expands
 Berbers controlled the city of
Timbuktu since 1433.
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In 1468, Muslim leaders asked the
Songhai king, Sunni Ali, to
overthrow the Berbers.
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Ali does, killing many people and
taking control of Timbuktu.
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Gets a reputation as a powerful
king who rules harshly.
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Conquered neighboring land like
Djenne, after 7 year siege.
III. The Empire of Songhai
(continued)
B. Askia Muhammad
 Empire expanded greatly
under Sunni Ali’s rule.
 When he died in 1492, his
son was declared ruler.
 Askia Muhammad wanted to
seize the crown though.
 Felt that Sunni Ali did not
practice Islam the right way.
 A year later, Askia defeated
Sunni Ali’s son and become
ruler.
III. The Empire of Songhai
(continued)
C. Askia’s Organization
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Greatest achievement was
organizing the government.
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Divided empire into provinces.
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Put a governor in charge of each
province.
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Had directors of finance,
agriculture, army, and navy.
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Set up a system of organized tax
collection.
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Spread Islam throughout the
empire using scholars.
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In rural areas, traditional beliefs
were still mixed with Islam.
Example of mixing beliefs..
III. The Empire of Songhai
(continued)
D. Songhai Falls
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Askia Muhammad’s son would
eventually remove his father
from the throne.
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He was followed by a series of
weak rulers.
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1580’s- Moroccans take over the
salt mines.
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1591- Moroccans take over
Timbuktu and Gao.
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Empire collapsed
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Even with the fall of the Empire,
those Africans who live in
kinship groups will live much the
same as they had before or
during the empire.
Gallery Walk
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With a partner, walk around the room and
answer these questions by looking at the
placards up on the wall.