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The Empires of Africa. Ghana to Zimbabwe. The West African Kingdoms. Kingdom of Ghana. Kingdom of Ghana. First powerful west African kingdom Located between the Senegal and Niger rivers Founded by Soninke people around 300AD Height reached between 800 and 1200AD
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The Empires of Africa Ghana to Zimbabwe
Kingdom of Ghana • First powerful west African kingdom • Located between the Senegal and Niger rivers • Founded by Soninke people around 300AD • Height reached between 800 and 1200AD • Capital = KumbiSaleh
Kingdom of Ghana • Reasons for development • Gold Trade • Provides ruler with wealth and power • Iron Weapons • Give Soninke a military advantage over their neighbors • Use of Horse and Camel • Increase transportation and connect parts of kingdom
Decline of Ghana • Almoravid rulers from the north attack Ghana • Call for jihad against the non-Muslim rulers of Ghana • In 1054, they capture the capital • Soon after, Almoravid rule weakens • Parts of the kingdom break away, and Ghana becomes fractured into smaller states
Kingdom of Mali • Develops after the fall of Ghana • Height around 1200 to 1400AD • Located in territory of Ghana, plus additional territory • Begun by the Mandingos • Same pattern as Soninke; conquer neighboring cities and establish control over certain areas • Several great centers of learning were established during the Mali kingdom • Timbuktu, Djenne, Gao
MansaMusa • Mansa was the name given to the ruler of Mali • Musa was a very wealthy and famous ruler • Ruled from 1312 to 1337 • Captured city of Taghaza, and its salt mines; brought him even more power
Musa’sImpact • Musa converts to Islam • Many officials do the same; local people retain traditions • Musa bases justice on the Koran • Musa’s Pilgrimage to Mecca • Won him worldwide fame; traveled with 60,000 people, 80 camels and 300 lbs. of gold • His “charity” disrupted the economy of Egypt
The Decline of Mali • Mali begins to break apart in the early 1400’s • Rulers after Musa were not as able • Regions and cities begin to break away from Mali control • Mali exists for centuries after, but only as a small kingdom
The Rise ofSonghai • Develops after the decline of Mali • Centered in the city of Gao • Encompasses part of former kingdom of Mali, plus land to the east and north • Established between 1350 and 1600AD
Rulers of Songhai **2 powerful rulers during the height of Songhai • Sunni Ali – • In 1464 he seizes the cities of Timbuktu and Djenne, which had been parts of Mali • Attempts to restore peace and security to trade routes • Askia Muhammed – assumes power in 1493 • Songhai reaches its height under Askia; sets up strong central government • Makes a pilgrimage to Mecca • Encourages Muslim scholars to move to Timbuktu; becomes great center of learning
The Decline of Songhai • Moroccans invade Songhai in 1591 • Had heard of the wealth of Mali • Cross Sahara with more powerful weapons (guns, cannon) • Arrows and spears of defenders are no match for Moroccans **This marks the end of the great kingdoms of West Africa
Great Zimbabwe • Located in region of Zambezi and Limpopo rivers • Bantu-speaking people from central Africa begin to migrate south and east • Brought iron and agriculture with them • First centralized state was known as “Great Zimbabwe”, or “stone enclosure” • Was a fortification surrounded by huge, elliptical stone walls made without mortar
FrontPage: NNIGN The Last Word: “Letter to the Editor” due Wednesday
Sample letter to the editor • Dear Editor, • I recently read an article in the Post-Gazette regarding the lack of civilizations in Africa. There were some facts in that article which I think are incorrect, and I would like to set the record straight. • First, ancient civilizations did exist in Africa. One of the characteristics of a civilization is the establishment of permanent structures and settlements. There were great stone houses built at Zimbabwe, and these structures show that there was civilization present there. Also, to be a civilization, a group needs to trade with other societies. The Ghanan empire of West Africa did just that, trading gold for salt and other important goods…. • In conclusion, the quote by John Burgess is just not true. The African continent has provided us with a great deal of evidence of civilizations which contributed much to world progress.
