West Africa

1. West Africa In the Middle Ages

3. Warm-Up(1/17/12) Complete questionsWest Africa Civilizations • What do we know? • What do we want to know? • What will we learn?

4. Geography • Savannah, Forest, Desert • Vegetation Zones • Different resources

5. Religion • Traditional beliefs and religion • Islam from North Africa • A balance between the two religions

6. Achievements • Elaborate trade networks • Contributions to Muslim learning • Strong government over a wide area

7. Politics • Rule by kings in empires or kingdoms • Kingdoms would expand when rulers of wealthy cities conquered other cities • Kings made merchants pay tribute • Villages most important to common people

8. Economy • All about the trade-Mali and Ghana able to prosper economically because they were located along trade routes • Gold and slaves from the south, salt from the north, food from both • Trans-Sahara trade

9. Social Structure • Family structure • Villages are key • Kinship considered vital

10. Geography and Trade

14. Niger River

15. Niger River • Important river in West Africa • Went through 3 vegetation zones • Provided farmland • Transportation and communication

16. Desert • Dry climate • Only plants that need little water grow • Sahara desert dominant feature and barrier • Salt found here, and labor often needed • Some food grown • No gold

17. Savannah • Grassland in a tropical region • Flat, grassy, and some scattered trees • Wet and dry seasons • Certain crops and cattle come from this area in big amount • No salt or gold • Extra Labor

18. Forest • Wet climate with many plants • Found in the southern coastal areas of West Africa • Gold is found here • Some food grown, but no salt • Extra Labor

19. Trading • Trade can be difficult • Niger River helps trade in parts of West Africa • Sahara a large barrier to northern Africa • Camel used starting in 300 CE • Camel greatly increased trade abilities

20. The Trade • What goes where? • Who gets what? • What does each vegetation zone have? • What does each vegetation zone need? • How will it get there?

21. The Ghana Empire • Read pages 159-161 in textbook • Use Cornell Notes system • In your Main Ideas section, break up your notes into sections: • The Foundation of the Empire • Religious and Cultural Changes • Influence of Islamic Beliefs • Ghana Under Attack • Write at least 3 main points for each section

22. The Mali Empire • Read aloud as a class pages 165-167 in textbook • Use organized notes • First section: Rise of Mali • Sundiata Comes to Power (4 notes) • Mansa Musa Expands the Empire (4 notes) • Second section: Decline of Mali • Internal Problems (2 notes) • External Problems (2 notes)

23. Sundiata • Sundiata had a powerful army, captured parts of old Ghana, including the old capital • Expanded the empire and trade networks starting in 1240 CE and made new capital of Timbuktu

24. Sundiata • Islam and traditional beliefs are balanced • Crops expanded in certain regions

25. Mansa Musa • Mansa Musa came to power in 1312 CE and was a devoted Muslim • Allowed his people to practice any religion

26. Mansa Musa • 1324 CE began a great pilgrimage to Mecca that raised interest in West Africa • Brought back Islamic advancements and ideas

27. Decline of Mali • After Mansa Musa died in 1332 CE, people fought over who would be the next ruler • Newly conquered regions began to rebel against Mali rule

28. Decline of Mali • Berber’s came from the north and captured Mali’s territories and Timbuktu by 1433 CE • By 1500 CE, Mali was only a small kingdom

29. West Africa In the Middle Ages

31. West Africa Civilizations • What do we know? • What do we want to know? • What will we learn?

32. Geography • __________________________________________ • ____________________________ • ______________

33. Religion • Traditional beliefs and religion • Islam from _______________ • A balance between the _________________

34. Achievements • Elaborate trade networks • Contributions to _____________ learning • Strong _______________ over a wide area

35. Politics • Rule by kings in empires or kingdoms • _______________ would expand when rulers of wealthy cities conquered other cities • Kings made merchants pay _______________ • Villages most important to common people

36. Economy • All about the trade-Mali and Ghana able to prosper economically because they were located along __________________ • _________and slaves from the south, ___________ from the north, food from both • _________________ trade

37. Social Structure • _____________ structure • Villages are key • Kinship considered vital

38. Geography and Trade

42. Niger River

43. Niger River • Important __________ in West Africa • Went through 3 vegetation zones • Provided ______________ • _________________ and communication

44. Desert • ___________ climate • Only plants that need little water grow • _____________ desert dominant feature and barrier • ________ found here, and labor often needed • Some food grown • ___________________

45. Savannah • _______________ in a tropical region • Flat, ___________, and some scattered trees • Wet and dry seasons • Certain crops and cattle come from this area in big amount • No ________________ • Extra Labor

46. Forest • Wet climate with many plants • Found in the southern coastal areas of West Africa • ____________ is found here • Some food grown, but _______________ • Extra Labor

47. Trading • Trade can be difficult • ___________________ helps trade in parts of West Africa • ________________a large barrier to northern Africa • Camel used starting in 300 CE • Camel greatly increased trade abilities

48. The Trade • What goes where? • Who gets what? • What does each vegetation zone have? • What does each vegetation zone need? • How will it get there?

49. The Ghana Empire • Read pages 159-161 in textbook • Use Cornell Notes system • In your Main Ideas section, break up your notes into sections: • The Foundation of the Empire • Religious and Cultural Changes • Influence of Islamic Beliefs • Ghana Under Attack • Write at least 3 main points for each section

50. The Mali Empire • Read aloud as a class pages 165-167 in textbook • Use organized notes • First section: Rise of Mali • Sundiata Comes to Power (4 notes) • Mansa Musa Expands the Empire (4 notes) • Second section: Decline of Mali • Internal Problems (2 notes) • External Problems (2 notes)