History Alive 7-3; 2.2

1. History Alive 7-3; 2.2 African Empires and Cities

2. 2.2A: Iron technology’s Impact on West Africa • Before the Discovery of Iron • Most people were hunter-gatherers • Tools and weapons were made of bone and stone fixed to sticks • The Nok Use Iron Technology after 500 B.C.E. • Rocks were crushed into small pieces to extract iron ore • Iron ore was melted in a furnace or over a fire • Hammers were used to beat warm iron into tools or weapons

3. 2.2A: Iron technology’s Impact on West Africa • Iron Brings Revolutionary Changes • More efficient farming developed due to iron tools such as axes and hoes • Larger meat supply was produced due to iron-tip weapons • Permanent settlements grew along rivers as the number of farms increased • Job specialization led to the production of more trade goods

4. 2.2A: Iron technology’s Impact on West Africa • Early Trade Centers Develop • Jenne-jeno: inhabitants use Niger River as a natural highway for trade • Trade brought great wealth to those who controlled West African cities • Tremendous wealth allowed West African leaders to build powerful armies, which were used to invade neighboring territories

5. 2.2B: The Kingdom of Gold • Indigenous Religion • Believed in one god, created world and lesser gods ruled over daily life • Believed disaster could be avoided by pleasing gods with prayer and ritual • Trans-Saharan Trade • North Africans brought salt to trade for gold • Wangarans brought gold to trade for salt • Ghana exploited geographic location and military power to tax all traders

6. 2.2B: The Kingdom of Gold • Islam • Tolerance for Muslims, but Koumbi divided between Muslims and Soninke • Most government officials and merchants were Soninke converts • Sources of Ghana’s Strength (800-1500 BCE) • Iron weapons allowed Ghana’s large army to conquer neighboring territory • Controlled of tans-Saharan gold-salt trade

7. 2.2B: The Kingdom of Gold • Sources of Ghana’s Unity • King’s powers were absolute; acted as a sole judge in all criminal matters • Large, powerful army and nobles enforced king’s decisions • Peasants contributed a portion of their harvest so that city dwellers could focus exclusively on their trade

8. 2.2C: The Kingdom of Mali: Mandinke vs. Sosso • The Fight for Control of Mali: Mandinke vs. Sosso • The Mandinke, under the leadership of Sundiatta, controlled mali • Samanguru, the leader of the Sossos, captured Koumbi, a city in Mali, in 1203 • Legend indicates that both leaders used magic in the Battle of Kirina • Sundiata’s victory expanded Mandinke territory and began the Empire of Mali

9. 2.2C: The Kingdom of Mali: Mandinke vs. Sosso • Mali at Its Height • Under Musa, Mali was twice the size of Ghana • Mali remained powerful for nearly 200 years • Mansa Musa’s Pilgrimage • Brought thousands of people and camelloads of gold with him • Very generous with his gold

10. 2.2C: The Kingdom of Mali: Mandinke vs. Sosso • Impact of Pilgrimage on Mali • Mapmakers began to include Mali on maps • Qur’anic schools and Muslim architecture built throughout Mali • Government officials read and wrote in Arabic • Territory was divided into provinces ruled by dugutigis

11. 2.2D: How the Songhai Empire Grew to Greatness • Songhai Gains Independence from Mali • Songhai lived under rule Malian Empire for hundreds of years • Sunni Ali Ber helped Songhai gain independence from Mali in 1400s

12. 2.2D: How the Songhai Empire Grew to Greatness • The Empire Under Askia Muhammad • Askia, a devout Muslim, rose to power by gaining support from those who opposed intolerant policies of Sunni Ali’s son • Askia declared Islam the official Songhai religion and appointed Muslim judges • Askia’s conquests made the Songhai Empire larger than Mali or Ghana

13. 2.2D: How the Songhai Empire Grew to Greatness • Songhai Empire at Its Height • Strong central government with ministers and market inspectors to carry out king’s order • Social system similar to a caste system: • Those with special privileges • Free people and soldiers • War captives and slaves; worked on farms • Songhai was center of learning • Timbuktu’s University of Sankore attracted scholars from across the world

14. 2.2E: The Conquest of Songhai by Morocco • Al-Mansur: Sultan of Morocco • Wanted to control source of both gold and salt • Commanded powerful army that was equipped with muskets • Seizure of the Salt Mines at Taghaza • Al-Mansur’s musketeers seized the Taghaza mines • Al-Mansur was furious and prepared his army for an attack on Gao

15. 2.2E: The Conquest of Songhai by Morocco • Moroccan Attack on Gao • Judar Pasha was ordered to capture Gao with 4,000 musketeers • Songhai’s 118,000 warriors fought bravely, but the muskets were too powerful • Songhai surrendered to Morocco and offered to pay tribute of gold and slaves

16. 2.2E: The Conquest of Songhai by Morocco • Effects of the Conquest on west Africa • Political unity kept by Ghana, Mali, and Songhai was destroyed • Salt-gold trade disrupted with lack of central control • Cultivated land fell to waste • Moroccan rulers remain in the area