Transcript Chapter 13 African Empires

The Geography of Africa p370-373
West African Kingdoms p374-379
East, Central and Southern Africa p380-385
West African
Kingdoms
Unit 5
Chapter 13
Lesson 2
p374-379
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The kingdom was rich in gold
KINGDOM of Ghana is not the same as Country of Ghana
The Arabs wrote of the history of Ghana
It started around 300 AD
Founded by the Soninke people
Early people in Ghana farmed, fished & herded cattle
Koumbi the Ghana capital became a major center of trade
By late 900’s Ghana a great trading empire
Trade routes brought Islamic faith to Ghana
Many of the Soninke converted to Islam
Ghana adopted Arabic writing
By 1203 Soninke lost power to King Sumanguru
 in 1235 Sundiata defeated King Sumanguru and
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created Kingdom of Mali
Mali increased in size
Mali had strong agricultural economy but main source
of wealth was trade
Discover of Gold on Niger River made Mali wealthy
By 1300 Mali most powerful Empire in West Africa
 Greatest Mali King
 Sundiata’s Grandson
 Strong Muslim ruler
 Many converted
under his rule
 Mansa Musa went on
pilgrimage to Mecca
 He had a HUGE
entourage
 Stayed in Egypt
 Ancient City
located
Southwest of
Timbuktu
 Group of farmers, traders & warriors along the Niger
River
 Fought to remain independent of Kingdom of Mali
 City of Gao was the capital
 By 1735 refused to pay tribute to Mali
 King Sonni Ali
 Songhai became a major center of trade
 Divided land into provinces
 Professional army & navy
 Muslim influence created discord in Empire
 1591 Invaded & defeated by Moroccans with guns