Transcript PPT

Societies & Empires in
West Africa
Map of West Africa, c. 1575 (Venetian – Girolamo Ruscelli)
Ghana Empire (750-1076)
• Introduction of camel
allowed trans Sahara
trade
• Gold-Salt Trade
– Gold from south of
Sahara / Niger River (no
salt)
– Salt abundant in Sahara
– Merchants met in cities
for transactions
– Control of trade routes
meant wealth, power!
• Ghana grew from taxing
the merchants
Ghana Empire
• Height of Ghana Empire
– King owned all gold and
controlled supply to keep value
high
– Had officials observe trade,
business to maintain fairness
– Powerful army kept trade routes
safe
• Around 1000, Ghanese
leaders convert to Islam
Ghana Empire
• By 1076 Berbers from West
Sahara conquer Ghana
Muslim States in North Africa
Extent of Almoravid Dynasty
• By 670, Muslims ruled
Maghrib
• Almoravid Dynasty started
around 1000
– Almoravids were a family of
Berbers from West Sahara
– Conquered Ghana in 1076
– Conquered Spain – called
Moors (remember Othello?)
Empire of Mali (1235-1400)
• Miners found gold further
east, resulting in shifting
trade routes
• Shift of power to state of Mali
• King Sundiata
– Used military strength
to conquer trade cities, creating
empire
– Delegated authority by putting
good people in charge of trade,
defense
– Promoted agriculture and trade
– Died 1255; next rulers convert
to Islam
Empire of Mali
• King Mansa Musa
(grand- nephew of
Sundiata)
– Skilled military leader
who doubled size of
Empire (incl. Timbuktu)
– Divided empire into
provinces with appointed
governors
– Large, powerful armies
kept peace, safe trade
– Built many mosques, to
spread Islamic faith
– Hajj story
– Later leaders not as
strong, and empire
declined
Mansa Musa, (holding gold nugget)
Mansa, in Cairo
Empires of Songhai (1400-1591)
• New gold discoveries
further east again shift
trade routes
• Songhai, near Niger
River, controls new routes
• King Sunni Ali
– Strong military, with navy
and cavalry, conquer large
area
– Created peace, prosperity
– Timbuktu became major
trade, cultural center
– Dies 1492 – revolt against
son
Songhai Empire, one of the largest African
empires in history (more land than all
of Western Europe!)
Empire of Songhai
• Replaced with King Askia
Muhammad (1493-1528)
Askia Muhammad
– Set up efficient bureaucracy,
trade & tax system
– Fervent Muslims
– Built stronger military and
agricultural system
– Defeated 1591 by Moroccans
using gunpowder weapons
Ended 1000 years of empires in
– Moroccans divided Songhai
West Africa
into many small kingdoms
Mosque of Timbuktu