Transcript GhanaEmpire
Ghana • • • • • • When Where Leaders Religion Trade Decline When • Around 300 a group of farmers banded together for protection called Soninke • They expandedtowns and villages formed • Used iron for weapons/ tools Where • Ancient Ghana was in north West Africa • Between the Niger and Senegal Rivers Leaders • 1068 Ghana reached its peak under king Tunka Manin • He decorated himself and his court in gold and luxuries • Kings conquered nearby trade centers- made Ghana richer A golden stool from Ghana Religion • Ancestor worship • Animism (the story of Bida the snake) • Ghana came in contact with Islam through trade and Muslim conquerors Myth of Bida the Snake • The wealth of Ancient Ghana is explained through the story of Bida, the black snake. This snake demanded an annual sacrifice in return for keeping Ghana rich. Myth of Bida the Snake • Every year a girl was sacrificed, until one year, the girl was rescued by her fiancé. Cheated of his sacrifice, Bida took his revenge on the region. A terrible drought took hold of Ghana and gold mining fell into decline. Trade • Ghana sat between the Sahara to the north (salt) and forests to the south (gold) crossroads location for trade • used silent barter- trade without talking • Controlled trade routes by 800 • Made traders pay taxes Major Ancient African Trade Routes Silent Barter • Kept gold mine locations secret • How did it work? – Salt traders left salt slabs by riverbed, beat a drum and step away – Gold traders arrive, leave a fair amount of gold, beat a drum and step away – If the salt miners were happy with the amount of gold they took it, beat drum, and left – The gold traders then took the salt Taxes African gold dust box • Rulers wanted to make money from traders passing through • Traders pay taxes coming in and out of Ghana • Rulers also made conquered tribes pay taxes • Only kings could have gold nuggets- everyone else got gold dust! Ghana’s Decline 1. Muslim tribe- the Almoravids- invaded, cut off trade routes in Ghana 2. Muslims brought animals and overgrazed the land = little farm land left 3. In 1200, people living in a country ruled by Ghana rebelled, took over, and weakened Ghana Questions • Why was salt so valuable in West Africa? a. Salt was important for religious ceremonies. b. Salt was used as a fertilizer for crops. c. Salt was an important trade item. d. Salt was used as a medicine against disease. Questions The griots of Africa used oral tradition to Pass down their histories by a. translating and teaching the Sunnah. b. writing and printing manuscripts. c. composing and carving hieroglyphics. d. reciting proverbs and telling stories. Questions How did West Africans find iron? Questions • How did the silent barter system work? Questions • Why did they use silent barter? Questions • Who was Tunka Manin? Questions • What 3 things led to the decline of Ghana?