Sub-Saharan Africa and Ghana 9/15/11

1. Sub-Saharan Africa and Ghana 9/15/11 Sub-Saharan Africa and Ghana 9/15/11 • Do Now: Make a cluster map of what you associate with AFRICA. It can be anything – use the GRAPESposter to inspire you! • Sub-Saharan Africa is the part of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. • Africa is mostly a plateau • Many waterfalls make it hard to travel by boat • Victoria Falls • Smooth coastline with few harbors • Sahara is the world’s largest desert, gotten drier over time • The Sahel is a fertile region with some rain on the edge of the Sahara • Grasslands and animals

2. What would some natural resources of California be? • Sahel is a tropical savannah • South of that is the rainforest • Main River is the Niger River • Civilizations grow along the river • Provide water and way to access inner Africa • Many African trade goods are natural resources • Gold, salt, diamonds, copper, iron

3. p. 129 • 1. How many different environments are on your map? • 2. Which parts of Africa have the fertile environments needed to support civilizations?

4. Ancient West Africa history is known mainly from oral history • West Africans had metals/ironmaking skills, taken from the Kush • Strong kingdom founded by the Soninke people (AD 300) • powerful weapons, lots of food • Empire became Ghana • Able to have labor specialization • In clans/tribes, each with a special craft or trade • traded gold for salt to north of the Sahara • Islam spread to West Africa

5. Ghana had two sources of revenue • Taxes on trade • Gold – owned only by the King • Group called the Almoravids launched a jihad and took the capital • Leaders converted to Islam • Ghana was never as wealthy again

6. Sub-Saharan • Plateau • Savannah • Natural resources • Oral history • Labor specialization • Revenue

7. The Rise of Mali 9/20/11 The Rise of Mali 9/20/11 DO NOW: 15R 15L

8. Classroom Policies – A Reminder • Bathroom Passes • 30/30 Rule • Pencil Sharpener • Out of Seat • Talking out of Turn

9. Why do you think Sumanguru let Sundiata live, when he killed everyone else in the family? • Sumanguru “Sorcerer King” • Cruel, mean, magical? • Killed 11 of 12 sons of Malinke King, let crippled son Sundiata live – big mistake! • Big battle, Sundiata killed Sumanguru who magically disappeared

10. How do you think restoring the gold and salt trade could have helped pave the way for the spread of Islam? • Sundiata was a wise king • Conquered the gold-producing regions • Told his people to start farming their land • Mali controlled trade route again, King Sundiata was a hero • Mali was powerful, traded with many countries • $$$ from gold and salt • Converted to Islam willingly • NOT like Ghana

11. Mansa Musa, famous Muslim ruler of Mali • Made his hajj (piligrimage) to Mecca • Showed off richness/power of Mali • Caused inflation of gold value (rise in prices) • Brought back As-Saheli to build mosques in Mali • Timbuktu became center of Islamic learning • Mali expanded and explored • Strictly followed Islam Mansu Musa's Trip to Timbuktu

12. Glossary words: • Sundiata • Conversion • Mansa Musa • Inflation • Scholarship • Ibn Battuta Venn Diagram Ghana and Mali

13. Storytelling in Africa 9/21/11 Storytelling in Africa 9/21/11 • Do Now: What are the two ways that Ghana made money (revenue) off gold? • Griots were the professional story tellers • Proverbs were wise sayings to guide and inspire Proverbs • West Africans’ lives were filled with music • Drummers create polyrhythmic music • Traditional dance to drums • The arts are used to express beliefs, an event, or celebrate people 16L 16R

15. In your own words, write a short summary of this Anansi story. • What do you think is the lesson of this story? Griot Polyrhythmic Proverbs

16. The Growth of Islam 9/23/11 • Do Now: • Of the 5 pillars of Islam, which one do you think is the most important? Why? • Songhai empire grew as Mali weakened • Sunni Ali Ber is king of Songhai • Decides to conquer Timbuktu • Uses cavalry and infantry, kills many in the city • Horrible tyrant • Next target is wealthy city of Djenne • Has a siege, Djenne holds out for 7 years until surrender • Sunni Ali Ber treats them with respect • Songhai = largest empire

17. Askia Muhammad takes over Songhai • Spreads Islam, attacks non-Muslims • Had judges enforced laws • Encouraged scholarship • People can read/write Arabic • Songhai invaded by Morocco, capture Timbuktu • Decline of Empire

19. West African Society 9/26/11 West African Society 9/26/11 • Well-organized society based on family • Families share kinship, connection based on family relations • Large families form lineage, a group of people with common ancestors • Head controls family • Lineage a part of a clan, many clans make up a village • Villages unite as ethnic groups with common language, identity, and culture • West Africans had fixed caste system “Kings may come and go, but families are forever”. – Mali proverb

20. Slaves either prisoners of war or born into slavery • Farmers, servants, government jobs, soldiers • Could pay way out of slavery, • Cannot be separated from family, had many rights • City – spoke Arabic, are Muslim • Country – old languages, polytheism • Farming villages, trading cities • Emperors protected trade • Population in cities of Gao, Djenne, Timbuktu grew • Very different between city and country

21. Kinship • Lineage • Ethnic group • Clan • Caste