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(15.2) WEST AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS

(15.2) WEST AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS. Objective: Identify key figures and significant economic, political, and social characteristics associated with Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. Objective: Trace the growth of major sub-Saharan African kingdoms and empires (Ghana, Mali, Songhai).

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(15.2) WEST AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS

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  1. (15.2) WEST AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS Objective: Identify key figures and significant economic, political, and social characteristics associated with Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. Objective: Trace the growth of major sub-Saharan African kingdoms and empires (Ghana, Mali, Songhai). Objective: Examine the internal and external factors that led to the fall of the empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. Disruption of trade Internal political struggles Islamic invasions

  2. GHANA, MALI, SONGHAI • Sundiata • Epic of Sundiata • Mansa Musa • Ibn Battuta • Gold mining & salt trade • Slavery • Salt & gold trade • Taxation system • Gold monopoly • Matrilineal inheritance • Griots • Ancestral worship • Rise of Islam • Slavery • Sunni Ali • Askia Mohammad the Great • Gold • Salt trade • Cowries as a medium of exchange • Sankore University • Slavery • Professional army • Provincial political structure

  3. SETTING THE STAGE • Why it matters: these civilizations show the richness of African culture before European colonization. They developed independent of European influence. • While the Almohads & Almoravids build empires in North Africa, 3 powerful empires flourished in West Africa in the Sahel, the savanna region south of the Sahara • Grew strong by controlling trade

  4. EMPIRE OF GHANA • Trade routes crossing savannah farmed by Soninke people who called their ruler ghana = war chief  By 700s Ghana was kingdom & rulers grew rich by taxing the goods traders carried through their territory • 2 important trade items = gold & salt • Arabs & Berbers (nomads) cross desert with camel caravans. • Ghana’s ruler acted as religious leader, chief judge, and military leader with a large bureaucracy & a huge army. • Islam spread in South Africa through trade • Ghana fell when 1076 Muslim Almoravids of N. Africa completed their conquest – war disrupted the gold/salt trade

  5. EMPIRE OF MALI • Founded by Mande-speaking people south of Ghana & their wealth was built on gold (like Ghana). • Mali’s 1st great leader = Sundiata, a mansa(emperor). • Promoted agriculture and reestablished the gold-salt trade Niani (capital) becomes center of commerce • Sundiata dies 1255  African Muslim rulers (like Mansa Musa) take over & build mosques/preach Islam. • Mansa Musa: skilled military leader who put down rebellion and expanded the empire •  divides it into provinces & appointed governors who ruled fairly & efficiently. • Timbuktu = most important city of empire

  6. MALI & TRAVELS OF IBN BATTUTA • Ibn Battuta = traveled for 27 years visiting most of the countries in the Islamic world. • Traveled throughout Mali without fear of crime. Why…? • Because Mali’s justice system impressed him • “They are seldom unjust, and have a greater abhorrence of injustice than any other people. Their sultan shows no mercy to anyone who is guilty of the least act of it. There is complete security in their country. Neither traveler nor inhabitant in it has anything to fear from robbers.” • Mali declines in 1400s – leaders after Mansa Musa lack ability, & gold trade shifts eastward as new gold fields developed elsewhere.

  7. EMPIRE OF SONGHAI • Mali declines  Songhai people to the east build up an army & extend territory to Niger River/gain control of important trade routes  Gao= capital of Songhai Empire. • 2 great Songhai Muslim rulers • 1. Sunni Ali: builds professional army with war canoes and mobile forces on horseback (captures Timbuktu & Djenne). • 2. Asaki Muhammad : excellent administrator  efficient tax system & appointed officials to serve as ministers of treasury, army, navy, agriculture • Songhai falls because lack modern weapons • 1591 Moroccan force (Islamic invaders) with gunpowder/cannons invade- the collapse of Songhai ends a 1000 yr period in which powerful kingdoms ruled central region of West Af

  8. ADDITIONAL TERMINOLOGY • Matrilineal inheritance (Ghana): inheritance/family line based upon mother • Griots (Ghana): West Africa historian/story teller/musician (oral tradition) • Ancestral worship (Ghana): past descendants are honored • Epic of Sundiata (Mali): Epic poem that honors founder of Mali empire • Cowries as a medium of exchange (Songhai): shells of sea snail used for trade/ jewelry/ceremonial purposes • Sankore University (Songhai): ancient center of learning in Timbuktu

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