Transcript Africa - Vista Middle School

Medieval
Africa
Two African Empires to know about
You need to know about
the Empire of Ghana
And the Empire of
Mali.
They both originated in northwest Africa around the Niger River.
The Empire of Ghana came about 300 years before Mali.
Ghana
The rulers of Ghana
built an empire by
controlling the salt
and gold trade.
Ghana was located between the Sahara desert
and deep forests. In this location, they were in a
good position to trade in the region’s most
valuable resources--gold and salt.
Salt and Gold
Silent Barter

Silent Barter is a process in which people exchange
goods without contacting each other directly.

In Ghana, traders from the north would cross the Sahara
and bring their salt. Gold miners came from the south to
trade their gold. Without talking to each other, they would
leave their goods and hit drums to signal that they were
ready to trade.

Every trader that passed through Ghana paid a tax to
Ghana’s rulers, making the empire very wealthy.

Ghana eventually declined due to invasions, overgrazing,
and internal rebellion.
Mali
The kingdom of Mali
became powerful for the
same reason as Ghana—
trade. Traders brought
something else to Mali
besides goods: Islam.
Even the greatest king, Mansa Musa,
became a Muslim.
Mansa Musa

Mansa Musa made Mali and its great
wealth famous throughout the Muslim
world when he went on a pilgrimage to
Mecca accompanied by thousands of servants and gold.

Mansa Musa wanted to spread Islam across Africa. He
encouraged his people to learn Arabic and set up schools
in Timbuktu and other cities.

When Mali fell to invaders, the Songhai Empire came into
power and helped strengthen Islam in West Africa.
A Visual Summary of African Empires
Practice Test Question
What was a result of Mansa Musa;s
pilgrimage to Mecca?
a. Mali became famous in the Muslim
world.
b. Mansa Musa became a Muslim.
c. Mansa Musa became a Christian.
d. Mansa Musa became friends with
Askia the Great.
The answer is A.
Practice Test Question
Why did Mansa Musa encourage the teaching
of Arabic?
a.
He needed people to translate the Qur’an.
b.
He wanted people to be able to read the
Qur’an in Arabic.
c.
He wanted to attract scholars to Mali.
d.
He wanted to build schools and mosques.
The correct answer is B.
Practice test question
How did trade affect the development of
towns?
a. Towns grew up around salt mines.
b. Towns grew where gold was mined.
c. Places where Islamic missionaries
camped grew into towns.
d. Places where traders met grew into
towns.
The correct answer is D.
Practice test question
What did the empires of Ghana and Mali
NOT have in common?
a. Both controlled the Niger region.
b. Both grew rich from trade.
c. Both suffered from invasions.
d. Both were Muslim empires.
The correct answer is D.
Practice test question
How did the location of cities in the West
African empires of Ghana and Mali
influence their growth?
a.
Their location in river valleys allowed for
extensive farming.
b.
Their coastal location made the cities
major ports for maritime trade.
c.
Their location on major trade routes
allowed them to prosper economically.
d.
Their mountainous location made the
cities easily defensible.
The correct answer is C.