AfricaGhana, Mali, & Songhai Empires

Section 1: African Culture

African Tribal Life

● Focus on group, not individual● Group owns all land● Strong loyalty to group● Ceremonies to celebrate stages of life● Age & work associations● Respect for ancestors● Importance of religion● Gov’t is the responsibility of chiefs (kings)

Nomadic Lifestyle● Men = hunters● Women = gatherers● Hunting and gathering food creates a nomadic lifestyle

Social Structure of a Tribe (Clan)● Male leaders

○ Fathers, uncles, or father-in-laws● Does not give orders● Freedom to leave tribe if wanted

Importance of Family● Clans form based on families● Several clans (tribes) share power● No one single ruler

Lineage● Members of a lineage all descend from a common

ancestor○ Lineage includes past & future generations

Tracing Family Descent● Matrilineal societies trace their ancestors through their

mothers● Patrilineal societies traces their ancestors through their

fathers

Section 2: Empire of Ghana

(c. 400-c. 1200 CE)

Trade Across the Sahara● Trade increased across the Sahara due to camels

○ Could travel further in desert conditions

The Soninke● Trade routes est. in the region farmed by the Soninke ● Soninke called their chief ghana● Muslim traders began to call the region ghana

○ Ghana empire developed

Ghana’s Wealth● Ghana empire grew wealthy by taxing traders

○ Gold and salt were two main items● Ghana chiefs demanded taxes and gifts from surrounding

tribes

Conversion to Islam● Ghana rulers converted to Islam

○ Through trade○ Encouraged literacy

● Most people kept animistic beliefs, or practiced both

Section 3: Empire of Mali

(c. 1200-1600)

Mali Emerges● Trade routes shifted east with the discovery of gold● Empire built on gold

Sundiata● Mali’s first mansa, or emperor● Reestablished gold/salt trade● Mali became a center of trade

Mansa Musa● After Sundiata’s death, some Mali leaders converted to

Islam● Mansa Musa was next great leader

○ Doubled size of Mali○ Divided into provinces

■ Governor in charge of each

Mansa Musa’s Net Worth● $400 billion

Let’s compare…

● Justin Bieber-$225 million● Tom Brady-$180 million● Amancio Ortega (richest man in the world)-$71 billion

Mansa Musa, The Richest Person in History

Hajj● Mansa Musa went on hajj to Mecca● Upon return, built many mosques and universities

○ Est. Timbuktu as a major trade city■ Attracted many important Muslims

Ibn Battuta● Islamic explorer● Visited Mali

○ Impressed by judicial system and lack of crime

Section 4: Empire of Songhai

(c. 1400-1600)

Sunni Ali● Built a professional army

○ War canoes○ Soldiers on horseback

● Expanded Songhai into an empire○ Captured Timbuktu

Askia Muhammad● Very religious

○ Overthrew Sunni Ali’s (not very religious) son● Excellent ruler

○ Able officials○ Efficient tax system○ Ministers of treasury, army, navy, and agriculture

Decline of Songhai● Chinese invented gunpowder● Arabs invented guns● Songhai only had spears and swords

○ Quickly defeated● Ended a 1000 year period where empires ruled western

Africa