african empires

AFRICAN EMPIRESAN

EXCHANGE OF GOODS AND CULTURE

GHAHA EMPIRE

In West Africa the kingdom of Ghana had some of the richest gold mines in Africa.

Kumbi Saleh was the capital of Ghana that became the most important city for trade in West Africa.

Muslim traders moved to Ghana in the 9th century and build mosques and schools.

Ghana the Land of Gold

Ghana: One of the earliest known kingdoms in this part of West Africa, This kingdom lasted from 750 A.D. to 1200 A.D. It became known as the "land of gold" for its role as an economic intermediary within the gold trade from south to north.

MALI EMPIRE1076 Berbers invadeEconomic Decline1240 Sundiata Keita

takes over Ghana.Mali traded gold and

salt.Islam grew in

importance.Timbuktu becomes a

center of trade and learning.

Mansa Musa was an important Malian king from 1312 to 1337 expanding the Mali influence over the Niger city-states of Timbuktu, Gao, and Djenne. Mansa Musa (Mansa meaning emperor or sultan and Musa meaning Moses), the grandson of one of Sundiata’s sisters, is often referred to as "The Black Moses“ .

Timbuktu became one of the major cultural centers not just of Africa but of the world. Vast libraries, madrasas (Islamic universities) and magnificent mosques were built. Timbuktu became a meeting place of poets, scholars and artists of Africa and the Middle East.

Even after Mali declined, Timbuktu remained the major Islamic center of sub-Saharan Africa. Mansa Musa maintained a huge army that kept peace and policed the trade routes. His armies pushed the borders to the salt mines in the north to the gold mines in the south.

MANSA MUSA THE HAJJ THAT CHANGED THE COURSE OF HISTORY1324 - Mansa Musa

made a hajj to Mecca, he took 60,000 people, eighty, camels, and twelve tons of gold.

He brought back teachers, artist, architects, and religious scholars.

Songhai EmpireAfter the death of Mansa

Musa, the power of Mali began to decline. In 1430, Tuareg Berbers in the north seized much of Mali’s territory. Djenne grew in importance.

The Great Mosque of Djenné is the largest mud, brick, or adobe building in the world and is considered by many architects to be the greatest achievement of West African culture.

Songhai EmpireAskia Dynasty – Askia

Muhammad first ruler.He build mosque and

schools.He helped Islam

proper and grow.He made Djenne a

center for learning and trade.

Askia Tomb is pictured .

EthiopiaEthiopia was a

powerful kingdom.Judaism and

Christianity existed there for centuries.

Zara Yakob (15th century) most powerful ruler.

Christianity became dominant religion.

The churches of Lalibela were not constructed — they were excavated. Each church was created by first carving out a wide trench on all four sides of the rock, then painstakingly chiseling out the interior. The largest church is 40 feet high, and the labor required to complete such a task with only hammers and chisels is astounding.

ZanzibarSettled by 11th

Century Arab Traders.

Key trading areaMuslim religionMain access point to

Africa from the East.

Dar es Salaam