West African Trading KingdomsWest African Trading Kingdoms

West African Trading KingdomsWest African Trading Kingdoms

As trade began to increase with the use of camels across the northern part of the Sahara

Desert, Ghana rulers began to tax goods carried through their lands.

As Ghana became a powerful empire, it converted to Islam.

salt

As Ghana fell to the Almorvids of N. Africa, they

never really regained its former power

Sundiata became Mali’s first Emperor.

Sundiata was a great military and political leader.

Mali rulers adopted the Muslim religion.

-Made Mali twice the size of the old empire Ghana.

-Appointed governors to help him rule

-Devoted Muslim (built two mosques)

-One was built in Timbuktu were it became the leading center of Muslim learning

-Ibn Battuta later traveled through Mali and described it as peaceful

Mansa Musa went through Egypt.He gave away so much gold, he

ruined the economy of Egypt for ten years!

Mansa Musa’ Hajj to Mecca

• Musa and entourage impressed people with their lavish clothing, generous gifts

• Trip to Mecca led to great changes in Mali• Returning to kingdom, Musa brought artists, architects who designed

beautiful mosques; also built schools, libraries where people could study Qu’ran, other Islamic writings

• Musa’s hajj brought Mali to attention of Europe

• Mali began to appear on European maps for first time

• Within a century, Europeans began to search West Africa for source of Mali’s riches

Effects Outside Africa• Rulers following Musa not as strong

• Several peoples broke away, set up independent kingdoms

• Mali also invaded from outside

• Among invaders, Tuareg

• 1433, captured Timbuktu, a blow from which Mali never recovered

Decline of Mali

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Songhai • Songhai existed as small kingdom for centuries, paid tribute to Ghana, Mali• Grew wealthy trading goods along Niger River• Came in contact with Muslim traders; Islam became influence on culture

Rise of Songhai• 1460s, rulers had become strong, rich enough to take control of former

empire of Mali• Songhai’s rise under leadership of military leader, sunni, named Sunni Ali

Military Leadership• Ali’s first act as leader: took Timbuktu from the Tuareg• Led number of campaigns against neighboring peoples to build empire• Military success came from army of skilled cavalry, navy of war canoes• Conquered new territories, replaced local leaders with Ali’s own followers

Asia Muhammad

Askia Muhammad

• Songhai’s culture reached height under Askia Muhammad

• Reign considered to be golden age

• During 35 years he ruled, Askia Muhammad expanded Songhai, strengthened its government

Pilgrimage

• Askia Muhammad, Songhai’s first Muslim ruler

• Islam had been introduced earlier; Sunni Ali never became Muslim

• To show commitment, Askia Muhammad decided to make pilgrimage to Mecca

• Traveled through Egypt, gained support of Muslim rulers

Results of Pilgrimage

• During pilgrimage, Askia Muhammad made contact with traders from North Africa

• Trans-Saharan trade that had slowed after fall of Mali resumed once again

• Increased commerce made Songhai very wealthy kingdom

• Askia Muhammad used wealth to once again make Timbuktu center of culture, Islamic scholarship

Trade Resumed• To secure control of trade, Askia

Muhammad extended Songhai’s borders north into desert, home of the Tuareg

• Did not want raiders to interfere with traveling merchants

• Reformed government, built offices in capital city of Gao to oversee trade, agriculture, military

• Eventually overthrown by son

• By 1591 empire conquered by Morocco

Control, Decline