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West African History. Ghana & Mali. The Kingdom of Ghana (500 AD – 1170 AD). Rise of Ghana. Ghana had a lot of gold and iron ore. Ghana became the first far-reaching trade empire in West Africa Ghana’s kings established and maintained their power through: their vast wealth (gold),
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West African History Ghana & Mali
Rise of Ghana • Ghana had a lot of gold and iron ore. • Ghana became the first far-reaching trade empire in West Africa • Ghana’s kings established and maintained their power through: • their vast wealth (gold), • personal relationship with subjects, • and large standing armies (iron).
Ghana’s Economy Ghana traded gold with cultures in North Africafor salt • Salt was important because it: • Preserved food, • Essential to their diet, • And helped the taste of food. Berber traders, then Muslim traders controlled the Saharan Trade.
Decline of Ghana • Spread of the Sahara Desert strained Ghana’s growing population • Urban populations became dependent on imported food • Muslim traders took primary control over the Saharan trade • Ghana’s income from trade declined
Ghana’s Collapse • Food shortage and reduced income made the empire less stable. • Ghana territory came under increased influence of the spreading Islamic empire to the north. • The Mali leader Sundiata Keita defeats the remnants of the Ghana Empire around 1240 AD.
Rise of Mali • Established by Sundiata Keita • Epic of Sundiata • Sundiata Keita adopts Islam as the official religion of Mali • Timbuktu becomes one of the world’s largest trading centers and the world’s most advanced centers of learning.
Eventually, Mali covered a territory larger than western Europe. • … and consisted of numerous vassal kingdoms and provinces in West and Central Africa.
Type 2 Writing • What caused the decline and collapse of the Ghana Empire? • GOOD NEWS! No more CDV or Take a Stand format. Just answer the question with at least 3 supporting details.