African Empires

#1: Point out 3 things about the map

Bantu Migration

3,000 BC - Farmers, herders Known for: Iron working, slash and burnOver 1,500 yrs, they migrated to S.

Africa

Cultural blending:Swahili – Arabic and Persian & Bantuhttp://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUdRSDcDQlY

#2: Think about synchronized swimmingThen, infer what religious syncretism means.

Religion in Africa

Animism – The belief that spirits are present in animals,

plants, and other natural objects

Islam – Spread into Northern Africa through trade and conquest

Christianity –Brought into the Kingdom of Aksum

Religious Syncretism – Blending of religions

#3: Locate the Sahara desert. What would be worth the travel across the desert to trade?

Trans Saharan Trade

Forests in West Africa – deposits of goldHowever, lacked salt

Sahara desert rich in salt

Cultural blending

#4. Draw the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.

Ghana

Became rich from taxing traders

Commanded an army and controlled trade

Influenced by IslamMuslim Almoravids

conquered and disrupted Ghana’s trade

#5. What was the artist trying to portray in this picture?

Mali

New gold found east of Ghana

Twice size of Ghana

Sundiata – first great warrior leader of Mali

Mansa Musa – ruler of Mali who went on hajj Gave away enormous amounts of gold

Europeans learned of Mali’s wealth

Timbuktu – famous city in Mali, mosques, universities

#6. What can you infer from the names of two famous Songhai leaders below?

Sunni AliAskia Muhammad

Songhai

New gold fields developed eastward

Sunni Ali - military leader who expanded territory Conquered Timbuktu

Askia Muhammad – took over after Ali’s son was not a MuslimLed empire at its peak

#7. Predict how Songhai might fall. (The last of the West African Empries)

The Fall

Songhai lacked modern weapons

1304 – Arabs developed first gun

1591 – Moroccan army invaded Songhai with gunpowder and cannons

Ended a 1,000 year period of powerful West African kingdoms