WESTERN AFRICAN KINGDOMSGhana, Mali, and Songhai

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 1. Ghana rose to power in the C.E.

400s.

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 2. It was called the crossroads of trade

because it is where many trade routes cross.

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 2. In the 1200 the kingdom of Mali

conquered what was left of Ghana.

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 3. A griot is a West African story teller.

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 5. Sundiata ruled from 1230 to 1255

and seized the capital of Ghana in 1240.

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.

RISE OF MALI 6. He then won control of lands from

the Atlantic Coast to the city of Timbuktu.

MALI’S GOVERNMENT 7. Mali had more territory, more

people, and more trade than Ghana.

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.

1. RISE OF SONGHAI Mali’s last strong king was Mansa Musa.

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.

5. RISE OF SONGHAI The empire lasted almost 100 more

years.

6. RISE OF SONGHAI In 1591 a small army from the Arab

kingdom of Morocco crossed the Sahara.

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.

9. SONGHAI’S GOVERNMENT Muhammad Ture took over Songhai’s

government after Sunni Ali died.

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.

10. SONGHAI’S GOVERNMENT Muhammad Ture was different from

Sunni Ali because he was a Muslim and his religious ideas affected his government.