West African EmpiresWest African Empires

The Empire of The Empire of GhanaGhana750-1076750-1076

Political:

•Led by powerful King who ruled over a splendid court

•Capital city was Kumbi Saleh

•Had a large army of foot soldiers and cavalry – helped to expand kingdom

The Empire of GhanaThe Empire of GhanaEconomic SystemEconomic System

► Commercially based empire. Commercially based empire. Gold-Salt TradeGold-Salt Trade

► Controlled and secured trade Controlled and secured trade routes.routes. Also traded in ivory, slaves, Also traded in ivory, slaves,

horses, cloth, salt.horses, cloth, salt.

► Conversion by emperors to Conversion by emperors to Islam improved diplomatic Islam improved diplomatic and economic relations and economic relations between West Africa and the between West Africa and the Islamic World.Islamic World.

The Empire of GhanaThe Empire of GhanaAchievementsAchievements

► Influenced by Muslims:Influenced by Muslims: Military technologyMilitary technology Arabic writingArabic writing ArchitectureArchitecture

► Women had a high status and Women had a high status and active role in market placeactive role in market place

The Mali EmpireThe Mali Empire1100-14001100-1400

Mali EmpireMali EmpirePolitical:

► Ruled by powerful kings called Mansas.► Expanded territory and appointed governors to rule areas► Laws based on Muslim system of justice (The Quran)► Mansa Musa: Most powerful leader, converted to Islam and made

pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)

Mali EmpireMali EmpireEconomic:

► Controlled Gold Salt Trade: ► Its wide variety of environments

produced a wide variety of goods.► The rule of the Mansa (king)

created peace and security for merchants to travel and trade freely.

► As a result, merchants began to establish family firms, with different individuals settling in far-flung parts of the Mali empire to carry on trade.

► Common items of exchange were kola nuts, butter, textiles and metal goods.

Mali EmpireMali EmpireAchievements:

► Developed the city of Timbuktu which became a great trading city and center of Muslim learning.

► Conversion to Islam and Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca brought world wide attention to West Africa

► Made the need of a large population and a large army a permanent necessity for states in West Africa.

Songhai Songhai EmpireEmpire

Political:► Sunni Ali- 1464 gained power and restored order► Powerful army used war and force to control region► Askia Muhammad- great leader who made pilgrimage to

Mecca► Organized provinces and created a bureaucracy► Developed a code of laws based on Islam

Songhai EmpireSonghai EmpireEconomic:

► Controlled Gold Salt trade► Industrious farmers and skilled

craftsmen in iron and copper► Slave trade developed► Merchants became very wealthy and

influential► Timbuktu remained a major

economic and cultural city

Djenne Djenne MosqueMosque

Songhai EmpireSonghai EmpireAchievements:

► Encouraged Muslim Scholars to settle in Timbuktu► Timbuktu became a cultural and learning center► University of Sankore - study of medicine, grammar, literature► Expanded empire with the use of force