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West African Empires

West African Empires. The Empire of Ghana 750-1076. Political: Led by powerful King who ruled over a splendid court Capital city was Kumbi Saleh Had a large army of foot soldiers and cavalry – helped to expand kingdom. Economic System Commercially based empire. Gold-Salt Trade

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West African Empires

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  1. West African Empires

  2. The Empire of Ghana750-1076 • Political: • Led by powerful King who ruled over a splendid court • Capital city was Kumbi Saleh • Had a large army of foot soldiers and cavalry – helped to expand kingdom

  3. Economic System • Commercially based empire. Gold-Salt Trade • Controlled and secured trade routes. • Also traded in ivory, slaves, horses, cloth, salt. • Conversion by emperors to Islam improved diplomatic and economic relations between West Africa and the Islamic World. The Empire of Ghana

  4. Achievements • Influenced by Muslims: • Military technology • Arabic writing • Architecture • Women had a high status and active role in market place The Empire of Ghana

  5. The Mali Empire1100-1400

  6. Mali Empire Political: • Ruled by powerful kings called Mansas. • Expanded territory and appointed governors to rule areas • Laws based on Muslim system of justice (The Quran) • Mansa Musa: Most powerful leader, converted to Islam and made pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)

  7. Mali Empire Economic: • Controlled Gold Salt Trade: • Its wide variety of environments produced a wide variety of goods. • The rule of the Mansa (king) created peace and security for merchants to travel and trade freely. • As a result, merchants began to establish family firms, with different individuals settling in far-flung parts of the Mali empire to carry on trade. • Common items of exchange were kola nuts, butter, textiles and metal goods.

  8. Mali Empire Achievements: • Developed the city of Timbuktu which became a great trading city and center of Muslim learning. • Conversion to Islam and Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca brought world wide attention to West Africa • Made the need of a large population and a large army a permanent necessity for states in West Africa.

  9. Songhai Empire Political: • Sunni Ali- 1464 gained power and restored order • Powerful army used war and force to control region • Askia Muhammad- great leader who made pilgrimage to Mecca • Organized provinces and created a bureaucracy • Developed a code of laws based on Islam

  10. Songhai Empire Economic: • Controlled Gold Salt trade • Industrious farmers and skilled craftsmen in iron and copper • Slave trade developed • Merchants became very wealthy and influential • Timbuktu remained a major economic and cultural city Djenne Mosque

  11. Songhai Empire Achievements: • Encouraged Muslim Scholars to settle in Timbuktu • Timbuktu became a cultural and learning center • University of Sankore - study of medicine, grammar, literature • Expanded empire with the use of force

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