Western African Kingdoms
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Transcript of Western African Kingdoms
WHO WERE THE ANCIENT WEST AFRICANS?
West Africa is the region of Africa on the Atlantic Coast between the Sahara to the north and rain forest to the south. Because the Sahara was difficult to cross, West Africa became known as the terra incognita, or unknown land.
WHO WERE THE ANCIENT WEST AFRICANS?
In West Africa three famous kingdoms were created during Ancient times: Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. These kingdoms had great achievements in art, religion, science, education, trade, government, and warfare. They also had rulers who are still known today.
RISE OF GHANA In 700 a great warrior and diplomat
from the royal clan Ouagadou unified the Soninke people and formed a kingdom. He was known as ghana which means war chief.
RISE OF GHANA Ghana benefited from being located
between the Niger and Senegal Rivers because people had to travel the rivers to trade.
RISE OF GHANA 3. The trade routes reached across the
Sahara into North Africa and down the Niger River to kingdoms in the rain forest.
RISE OF GHANA 4. For traders to meet, they had to pass
through Ghana. Passage came at a price, a tax paid to Ghana’s rulers. These taxes made Ghana rich.
GHANA’S GOVERNMENT The king of Ghana was considered the
father of all Soninke people. He was their religious leader, chief of their army, highest judge, and leader of the empire.
RISE OF GHANA 5. a. First Ghana knew how to make
iron weapons. b. Second Ghana built a huge army. c. Third people wanted to trade
items like salt and gold.
GHANA’S GOVERNMENT 6. The kings of Ghana relied on help
from a Council of Ministers, or a group of close advisors.
GHANA’S GOVERNMENT 7. As the empire grew, rulers divided it
into provinces. Lesser kings often conquered leaders, governed each of these areas.
GHANA’S GOVERNMENT 8. Beneath them, district chiefs
oversaw smaller districts. Each district usually included a chief’s clan.
GHANA’S GOVERNMENT 9. a Kings insisted
that local rulers send their sons to the royal court.
b. They rode through the countryside seeking reports of injustice.
c. Most important, they controlled trade.
GHANA’S GOVERNMENT 10. Nobody could trade without the
king’s permission and nobody could own gold nuggets except the king.
GHANA’S GOVERNMENT 11. The kingdom of Ghana was
inherited by the son of the king’s sister. This custom was confusing to many outsiders.
DOWNFALL OF GHANA The kingdom of Ghana never converted to Islam, even
though northern Africa had been dominated by the faith since the eighth century. The Ghanaian court allowed Muslims to settle in the cities.
Unlike the Ghanaians, the Berbers fervently converted to Islam and, in 1075, declared a holy war, or jihad, against the state of Ghana.
RISE OF MALI 1. Ghana’s power declined because: a. Discovery of gold mines outside of
Ghana. b. Heavy farming robbed the soil of
minerals and made it hard to grow crops.
c. Constant fighting with North African Muslims.
RISE OF MALI Before Mali emerged as a great empire,
it is believed that the Mandinka people of this region were journeying to the gold regions along the Senegal River and transporting the gold to Ghana for trade. The Mandika people were farmers who cultivated rice and other valuable crops. They were also expert traders. Their great success in farming and trade and their control of the rivers increased their power.
RISE OF MALI 4. Griots said that Mali was able to
conquer Ghana because of the warrior king Sundiata Keita. He is known as the great LION KING of Mali.
RISE OF MALI When Sundiata was young he could not
walk and rarely spoke. Many doubted he could be king. When his father was dying, he grew strong to make him proud. Eventually he was so strong that no one else could draw his bow.
RISE OF MALI Sundiata was loved by his subjects. He
was known throughout Mali for his kindness, intelligence, and ability to settle disputes.
MALI’S GOVERNMENT 8. King divided the empire into
provinces, like Ghana. However, Sundiata, the founder of Mali, put his generals in charge of them.
MALI’S GOVERNMENT 9. People accepted the generals as
their leaders because: a. They protected them from invaders. b.They came from the provinces they
ruled.
MALI’S GOVERNMENT 10. Mali’s other great king, Mansa Musa
rewarded citizens with gold, land, and horses to keep them loyal.
MALI’S GOVERNMENT Mansa Musa was Muslim and wanted
Mali to be Islamic, but did not force other to adopt these beliefs. As a result, Islam and traditional west African religions were practiced side by side.
MALI’S GOVERNMENT Mansa Musa expanded the borders of
Mali in all directions. He created more trade routes and the cities of Gao and Timbuktu emerged.
2. RISE OF SONGHAI Mali fell because the king who followed
Mansa Musa failed to stop Berber invasions.
3. RISE OF SONGHAI In 1468 Sunni Ali, the leader of the
Songhai, stormed into Timbuktu and drove out the Berbers.
4. RISE OF SONGHAI Sunni Ali was able to build his empire because he
ordered a fleet of war canoes to seize control of the river trade. His armies then swept westward into the Sahara where they took Berber salt mines.
RISE OF SONGHAI Sunni Ali developed new methods of
farming. He organized the boatmen of the Niger River into the beginnings of a professional Navy.
7. RISE OF SONGHAI The Moroccans were able to defeat the
Songhai because they had cannons, guns, and gunpowder while the Songhai had swords, spears, and bows.
RISE OF SONGHAI Morocco never gained complete control
of the Songhai territories because of natural disasters, raids, and the European slave trade.
8. SONGHAI’S GOVERNMENT Songhai built on the traditions of Ghana
and Mali. It’s founder Sunni Ali divided the empire into provinces.
SONGHAI’S GOVERNMENT He led a military coup and took over
the Songhai government. He created a standing army and made sure that everyone would advance in the government based on their own achievements.