Sudanic Kingdoms

Ancient West African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.

West African Empire that grew rich from taxing and controlling the salt-gold trade from 300 to 1100.

Ghana developed in West Africa between the Niger (NI-jhur) and the Gambia Rivers.

It was an important kingdom there from about AD300 to about 1100.

The rivers helped Ghana to grow rich because they were used to transport goods and develop trade.

Ghana also collected taxes from traders who passed through the kingdom. The people called their nation Wagadu; we know it as Ghana --that was the word for war chief.

Growing Trade in Ghana

• In 200s, Berbers begin using camels to cross Sahara for trade

• Muslims use word ghana “chief” to refer to people of that land

• By 700 trade is making people rich in the kingdom– Trans-Saharan trade included 2 important items• Salt• Gold

– Transported by Arab and Berber traders with camel caravans

Ghana became a rich and powerful nation, especially when the camel began to be used as a source of transport. Ghana relied on trade and trade was made faster and bigger with the use of the camel. 2 most important items of trade were salt and gold.

Ghana had few natural resources except salt and gold. They were also very good at making things from iron. Ghanaian warriors used iron tipped spears to subdue their neighbors, who fought with weapons made of stone, bone, and wood.

Gold Salt Trade: • Gold mined in forests south of

Sahara; traded to north• Salt mined from Sahara and

carried to West Africa• Ghana provides protection, taxes

trade, and ensures fairness

Land of Gold

• By 800, king of Ghana rules an empire and taxes surrounding kings– As long as kings made their

payment they were left in peace

• Only king can own gold nuggets; this keeps prices high

• King commands army, acts a chief judge and religious leader

• Islam spreads through region south of the Sahara through trade.• North of the Sahara Islam spread through conquests.

• Muslim merchants/teachers settled in states south of Sahara and introduced their faith there.

• In 1000s, Ghana’s rulers convert to Islam and take Islamic advisors to help run kingdom.

• Islam’s growth encouraged the spread of literacy because to study the Qu’ran, converts to Islam had to learn Arabic.

• While Ghana’s rulers accepted Islam, many people in the empire clung to their animistic beliefs and practices.

• Animism: belief that spirits living in animals, plants, and natural forces play an important role in daily life

• Ghana falls to Muslim Almoravid conquest and never rises again• War badly disrupted the gold-salt trade

Islamic Mosque in Ghana

West African empire that grew rich from trade and gold once taking over trade routes after conquering the lands of the Ghana Empire.

Rise of Mali

• By 1235, Ghana replaced by Mali – another kingdom based on gold trade

• Its founders were Mande-speaking people who lived south of Ghana

• Mali becomes wealthy as the gold trade routes shift eastward

A powerful king named Sundiata ruled this area from around 1230-1255 AD. He becomes emperor of Mali by overthrowing the unpopular ruler. He led the people in conquering and expanding his kingdom to be as great as Ghana had been. He conquered Ghana and cities of Kumbi and Wlata. He also reestablished the gold-salt trade and encourages agriculture. Made the new capital of Niani an important center of trade and commerce. He was a great leader in peace and in war.

Perhaps the greatest (most famous) king of Mali was Mansa Musa (1312-1337).

Mansu Musa: Lord of the Negroes of Guinea.

Mali Turmoil

• Between the reigns of Sundiata and Mansa Musa, Mali experienced turmoil.

• 7 different rulers in approximately 50 years.• Like Sundiata, Mansa Musa was a skilled military leader who

exercised royal control over the gold-salt trade and put down every rebellion.

• His 100,000 man army kept order and protected Mali from attack.

• Under Mansa Musa, the empire expanded to roughly twice the size of the empire of Ghana.

• He divided his empire into provinces and appointed governors, who ruled fairly and efficiently.

Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim.

In 1324 Mansa Musa made a pilgrimage to Mecca with 60,000 servants and followers and 80 camels carrying more than 4,000 pounds of gold to be distributed among the poor.

Of the 12,000 servants 500 carried a staff of pure gold. This showed his power and wealth to the other people he visited.

When he returned, he ordered the building of new mosques at the trading cities of Timbuktu and Gao.

Timbuktu became one of the most important cities of the empire.

Travels of Ibn Battuta• In 1352, one of Mansa Musa’s successors prepared to receive a

traveler and historian named Ibn Battuta.• He had traveled for 27 years visiting most of the countries in the

Islamic world.• Ibn Battua visited Timbuktu and other cities in Mali and he found he

could travel without fear of crime.– Their justice system impressed him greatly because there was complete

security in the empire… no fear of robbers.– As a devout Muslim, he praised them for their study of the Qu’ran but

criticized them for not strictly practicing Islam’s moral code.• Ibn Battuta left Mali in 1353 and within 50 years the once-powerful

empire began to weaken.– Most of Mansa Musa’s successors lacked his ability to govern well.– Gold trade that had been the basis of Mali’s wealth shifted eastward as new

goldfields were developed elsewhere.

As Mali declined in the 1400s, people who had been under its control began to break away. Among them were the Songhai to the east.

Sunni Ali saw that the kingdom of Mali was weakening and he led his soldiers to conquer the area. His people lived east of Mali and controlled gold trade that was moving further east. He began the kingdom of Songhai with the conquering of Mali. He also set up a complex government to rule all the lands he had conquered and gained control of all the important trade routes.

• The Songhai had 2 extraordinary rulers, both of whom were Muslims.

• Sunni Ali – built a vast empire by military conquest.– Rule began in 1464 and lasted 30 years.– Built a professional army that had a riverboat fleet of

war canoes and a mobile fighting force on horseback.– Expanded Songhai into an empire through his skill as a

military commander and his aggressive leadership.

Sunni Ali died in 1492 CE. His son took over the rule of Songhai but he did not accept Islam as a religion.

Islam was accepted as a religion by many people in northern Africa.

One of Sunni Ali’s generals, named Askia Muhammad, overthrew the new king and made himself king of Songhai.

Askia Muhammad was a follower of Islam (Muslim) and so he made Islam the religion of his kingdom.

During his 37 year rule, Askia Muhammad proved to be an excellent administrator.

This is a photo of a mosque, or place of

worship for Muslims, in western Africa. Many mosques were built of

local materials.

Songhai remained a rich and strong kingdom under Askia Muhammad’s rule.

It had a complex government centered in the city of Gao, and great centers of learning but did lack modern weapons.

Chinese had invented gunpowder in the 9th century and about 1304 the Arabs developed the first gun which shot arrow.

Later rulers of Songhai were not as powerful.

In 1591, Morocco invaded Songhai to take its rich trade routes.

Moroccans had a new weapon, the gun/cannon, and the army of Songhai did not.

Gun/cannon versus spears/swords

This led to the fall of Songhai and the collapse of the empire ends a 1,000 years period of West African empires.