The Muslim World and Africa (730 B.C.–A.D.

1500)
Lesson 6 Kingdoms of West Africa
The Muslim World and Africa (730 B.C.–A.D. 1500)
Lesson 6 Kingdoms of West Africa

Learning Objectives
• Analyze how the gold and salt trade in Africa facilitated the
spread of ideas and trade.
• Describe how the rulers of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai built
strong kingdoms.
• Summarize how other West African societies developed.
 Trade Grows Across the Sahara
Trading Patterns Emerge
• A trade network is going to emerge from West Africa to North
Africa and the Middle East
• West Africa will export leather goods, kola nuts, cotton cloth and
enslaved people
• North Africa will bring silk, metal, beads, and horses to south of
the Sahara, and also their religion and beliefs
Trading Gold for Salt
• Gold and Salt dominate Saharan trade
• Gold is found in present day Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal
• The gold will make its way into North Africa and Europe
• They will trade the gold for salt b/c south of the Sahara salt is
scarce
• All this trade will bring ideas and religions to new areas and help
make stable kingdoms
Trade Grows Across the Sahara

As Neolithic people began farming, many still relied on hunting for their food.
 Trade Grows Across the Sahara

Analyze Maps The people of early Africa developed a system of trade routes that connected much of
the continent. Why do you think most of these trade routes bordered oceans and rivers?
 Ghana

Gold Wealth of Ghana

• The rulers of Ghana control the gold salt trade across West
Africa due to their location
• The King collected tolls on things entering and leaving Ghana,
earning the city the nickname “The Land of Gold”
The King and His Court
• Kumbi Saleh was the last great capital of Ghana
• It was 2 separate walled towns
• The King lived in the first town, the royal palace surrounded by a
complex of domed buildings
• In the 2nd town prosperous Muslim merchants from north of the
Sahara lived there, in order to trade
 Ghana
Islam’s Influence
• The King is going to use Muslims as officials and counselors
• Ghana is going to adopt some military ideas and ideas about
government from the Muslims
• Muslim merchants are going to introduce Arabic language and
writing. Islamic scholars and clerics will travel with merchants
bringing ideas of education learning
• Other rulers will adopt Islam as their religion, leading to their
countries converting as well
Ghana Declines
• In 1050 Almoravids (Muslims) will invade from North Africa and
take over Ghana
• They will conquer Ghana briefly but will not be able to hold it, it
is too far away to govern properly
• Ghana will continue to decline until it is taken over by the Mali
Ghana

In the 1400s, a system of using standardized weights in the form of brass figures, such as this one from
Ghana, to weigh the gold dust currency was developed in West Africa.
 Mali
Mansa Musa: Mali’s Greatest Ruler
• Comes into power in 1312, pushes westward to the Atlantic
Ocean and north to capture cities
• He will convert to Islam but does not force his subjects to
convert, will promote religious tolerance
Mansa Musa’s Pilgrimage
• In 1324 he will fulfill one of his obligations as a Muslim and make
a pilgrimage to Mecca
• This will allow him to forge diplomatic and economic ties with
other Muslim countries
• He will come back home with scholars, architects, and teachers
• These people will introduce Arab style to palace and mosques
and help foster education.
• Word of his pilgrimage will reach Europe who will be interested
in the gold as they are starting to use gold coins
 Mali

Analyze Data Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 was a sight to behold as he traveled in grand
style. Based on the numbers, what percentage of those who traveled with him were enslaved?
 Mali

Growth of Timbuktu
• On his way back home Mansu will build a mosque and a palace
here
• The city will draw hundreds of Muslim scholars like doctor,
priests, and judges
• The University of Timbuktu will reportedly have 25000 students
at its height.
• The university will reflect on Islam’s emphasis on education and
showed how Islam spread peacefully through trade and centers
of learning
 Mali

Draw Conclusions In this 1325 world map, Mali ruler Mansa Musa is offering gold to a trader. What
does this image say about Mansa Musa and the Mali empire?
 Songhai
An Empire Expands
• Songhai develops on the Niger River, in present day Mali and
Niger. Gao is its capital
• Soldier king Sonny Ali (1464-1492) is going to create the largest
state that existed in West Africa
• He is going to bring in wealthy cities and trade routes under his
control
• He is not Muslim
• Emperor Askia Muhammad is going to set up a Muslim dynasty
after Sonny’s death. He will set up a bureaucracy with different
departments for farming, military, and the treasury
• Askia will make a pilgrimage to Mecca which leads to scholars
coming to his court in Gao
• Askia will build mosques and schools to study the Quran
 Songhai

Invaders from the North

• Songhai will continue to prosper after Askia’s death (1528) but
questions about who takes over after his death will lead to a
civil war (1586)
• Morocco will send armies south to take over the gold mines
using gunpowder weapons.
• They will succeed but like the Almoravids who take over Ghana,
they cannot rule a country so far away.
• Songhai will splinter into many small kingdoms.
 Songhai

Founded in the 5th century, Timbuktu was a great cultural, religious, and economic center. The city
reached the height of its power in the 1400s and 1500s.
Songhai

The Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu underscored the importance of education and of Islam in that city.
 Small Societies and Kingdoms of West Africa

Benin: A Forest Kingdom

• Located in the rainforest of the Guinea coast
• Traded pepper, ivory, and later slaves
• The king was called the oba and he was a political, judicial, and
religious leader
• 3 mile long wall surround the capital city
• Ife, a nearby forest kingdom, is going to teach the Benin how to
cast in bronze and brass. They are going to create sculptures of
the faces of the queen, the oba and later on bearded
Portuguese traders
Small Societies and Kingdoms of West Africa

Artists working in Benin sculpted many figures in bronze, including this warrior.
 Small Societies and Kingdoms of West Africa

Walled City-States of the Hausa

• The Hausa built clay walls and established independent city
states in the 1300’s
• These cities will become thriving trade centers
• Kano will be the largest of these cities with 12 miles of walls and
up to 50 feet in height. It’s greatest king Muhammad Rumfa was
Islam and during his reign a written lauguage with Arabic script
will be created and Islamic law influenced government
• Many Hausa rulers were women, including Amina from Zazzau.
She will conquer Kano and other cities and will dominate
Saharan trade routes
Quiz: Trade Grows Across the Sahara

Salt played a key role in the development of West Africa

because

A. it caused fierce rivalry among neighboring kingdoms.

B. it encouraged trade and brought new religion to the
region.
C. it allowed outsiders to dictate what African culture
should be.
D. it began the process of European colonization in the
region.
Quiz: Ghana

Which statement best describes the overall impact of

Muslim merchants on the city of Kumbi Saleh?

A. Muslim merchants controlled the city’s government.

B. Muslim merchants were a small part of the city’s
society.
C. Muslim merchants displaced local residents in many
neighborhoods of the city.
D. Muslim merchants and traders made the city a bustling
center for commerce.
Quiz: Mali
Mansa Musa was the greatest ruler of Mali. During his
reign he

A. ensured peace and prosperity by waging preemptive

wars against his enemies.
B. expanded the kingdom’s borders and forged ties with
other Muslim lands.
C. ensured peace and prosperity when he unified the
kingdom by making his subjects convert to Islam.
D. expanded Mali’s borders to the Atlantic Ocean and
unified the kingdom by making his subjects convert to
Islam.
Quiz: Songhai

How was Sonni Ali able to create such a wealthy kingdom?

A. He converted to Islam, strengthening commerce

between Songhai and other kingdoms.
B. He forged military alliances with other nations, bringing
more wealth to Songhai.
C. He expanded the exploitation of Songhai’s natural
resources, allowing Songhai to prosper.
D. He brought trade routes under Songhai’s control,
allowing the kingdom to flourish.
Quiz: Small Societies and Kingdoms of West Africa

How did the prosperity of West Africa’s smaller societies

compare with Africa’s much larger kingdoms?

A. As in the larger kingdoms, farming and trading were

key to prosperity.
B. As in larger kingdoms, military might was key to
prosperity.
C. As in larger kingdoms, roads were key to prosperity.
D. As in larger kingdoms, Christianity was the key to
prosperity.