Transcript The Sudanic Kingdoms

The Sudanic
Kingdoms
Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
Standards
 SSWH6
The student will describe the diverse
characteristics of early African societies before
1800 CE.
 b. Describe the development and decline of the
Sudanic kingdoms (Ghana, Mali, and Songhai);
include the roles of Sundiata, and the pilgrimage of
Mansa Musa to Mecca.
 c. Describe the trading networks by examining
trans-Saharan trade in gold, salt, and slaves;
include the Swahili trading cities.
 e. Analyze the role of geography and the
distribution of resources played in the
development of trans-Saharan trading networks
Kingdom of Ghana
 First
great trading state in West Africa
 Located in the Upper Niger River Valley
 Farmers in villages ruled by a local ruler
** This is not in the forest region of the
south where the modern nation of Ghana
exists
Kings of Ghana
 Strong
rulers who governed without any
laws
 Played active roles in the kingdom
 Vast wealth
 Relied on the well trained army of
thousands of men to maintain their
kingdom
Economy & Trade










Lived off land
Prospered from possession of both iron & gold
Skilled blacksmiths- highly valued because of their
ability to turn ore into tools & weapons
Gold made in the center of an enormous trade empire
Muslim merchants brought metal goods, textiles,
horses, and salt to Ghana
Used silent trade
Other exports included ivory, ostrich feathers, hides,
and slaves
Most of the trade was by the Berbers – “fleets of the
desert”
Ghana flourished for several hundred years
Collapsed during the 1100s
Kingdom of Mali
 Mali,
the greatest of West African trading
societies, established in the mid 13th century by
Sundiata Keita.
 Sundiata defeated the Ghanaians and captured
their capital in 1240.
 United the people of Mali and created a strong
government.
 Timbuktu was its most famous trading city
 Built its wealth and power on gold and salt
trade
 Most were farmers who lived in villages with
local rulers
Reign of Mansa Musa
 One
of the richest and most powerful kings
 Ruled from 1312-1337
 Mansa means king
 Doubled size of Mali
 Created a strong central government divided
one kingdom into provinces
 Devout Muslim
 Timbuktu recognized as one of the intellectual
capitals of the Muslim world
 Last powerful ruler of Mali
 By 1359 civil war divided Mali
Kingdom of Songhai







In 1009, a ruler established the Dia dynasty
First Songhai state benefited from the Muslim
trade routes linking Arabia, North Africa, and
West Africa
Gao- chief trading center
Trade in gold and salt made the empire so
prosperous
Songhai empire reached its heights of its power
under Muhammad Ture
Maintained peace and security with a navy and
soldiers on horseback
Declined during the 16th century. By 1600 were
little more than a remnant of their former power.