African KingdomsAfrican Kingdoms

Great EmpiresGreat Empires

Ghana: Land of GoldGhana: Land of Gold

3rd century A.D. - Berber nomads used camels to cross the Sahara

covered 60 miles in a day

traveled up to ten days without water

nomads blazed new routes across the desert and trade increased

3rd century A.D. - Berber nomads used camels to cross the Sahara

covered 60 miles in a day

traveled up to ten days without water

nomads blazed new routes across the desert and trade increased

African Caravan RoutesAfrican Caravan Routes

Gold-Salt TradeGold-Salt Trade

Gold Trade: came from a forest region

south of the savanna between the Niger and Senegal rivers

dug from shafts as deep as 100 feet

sifted it from fast-moving streams

until about 1350, at least 2/3 of the world’s supply of gold came from West Africa

Gold Trade: came from a forest region

south of the savanna between the Niger and Senegal rivers

dug from shafts as deep as 100 feet

sifted it from fast-moving streams

until about 1350, at least 2/3 of the world’s supply of gold came from West Africa

Gold-Salt TradeGold-Salt Trade

Salt Trade: West Africa’s savanna and

forests lacked salt salt was essential to

human life the Sahara contained

deposits of salt Arab and Berber traders

crossed the desert with camel caravans loaded down with salt

Salt Trade: West Africa’s savanna and

forests lacked salt salt was essential to

human life the Sahara contained

deposits of salt Arab and Berber traders

crossed the desert with camel caravans loaded down with salt

Empire of GhanaEmpire of Ghana

800 - king controlled trade

he could demand taxes and gifts from merchants and chiefs of surrounding lands

only the king had the right to own gold nuggets limited the supply of gold

and kept its price from falling

800 - king controlled trade

he could demand taxes and gifts from merchants and chiefs of surrounding lands

only the king had the right to own gold nuggets limited the supply of gold

and kept its price from falling

Empire of MaliEmpire of Mali

1235 - the kingdom of Mali emerged south of Ghana

miners found new gold deposits east of Ghana

the most important trade routes shifted eastward

helped make the people of Mali wealthy and allowed them to seize power

1235 - the kingdom of Mali emerged south of Ghana

miners found new gold deposits east of Ghana

the most important trade routes shifted eastward

helped make the people of Mali wealthy and allowed them to seize power

Mansa Musa and the Empire of MaliMansa Musa and the Empire of Mali

exercised royal control over the gold-salt trade and put down every rebellion

empire expanded to roughly twice the size ofthe empire of Ghana

divided Mali intoprovinces and appointed governors, who ruled fairly and efficiently

his 100,000-man army kept order and protected Mali from attack

went on a hajj to Mecca from 1324 to1325 and on his return built mosques in Timbuktu and Gao

Mansa Musa and TimbuktuMansa Musa and Timbuktu

Timbuktu became a center for learning

attracted Muslim judges, doctors, religious leaders, and scholars from far and wide to its mosques and universities

Timbuktu became a center for learning

attracted Muslim judges, doctors, religious leaders, and scholars from far and wide to its mosques and universities

African Kingdoms

and Empires

African Kingdoms

and Empires

Empire of Songhai

Benin

Great Zimbabwe

Mutapa Empire

Kilwa

Empire of Songhai

Benin

Great Zimbabwe

Mutapa Empire

Kilwa