Ancient African Ancient African KingdomsKingdoms

World History IWorld History I

BENIN BENIN GovernmentGovernment

Forest peopleForest people Kings known as ObasKings known as Obas Women – held own councils, Women – held own councils,

religious ceremoniesreligious ceremonies

Fact or Fiction?Fact or Fiction?

Some stories say the chiefs invited Some stories say the chiefs invited Oranyan from Ife to become the Oranyan from Ife to become the leader. leader.

Oranyan stayed long enough to Oranyan stayed long enough to father a child and leave. This child father a child and leave. This child became King Eweka. became King Eweka.

Oba EwuareOba Ewuare

15th century 15th century leader Oba leader Oba Ewuare began Ewuare began rule that father rule that father should be should be succeeded by succeeded by son. son.

He set up a He set up a system of checks system of checks and balances.and balances.

Growth of BeninGrowth of Benin

Benin citizens Benin citizens became wealthybecame wealthy

Because they Because they were wealthy…were wealthy…

Ghana Ghana A Sahelian KingdomA Sahelian Kingdom

African people, like the Berbers, formed African people, like the Berbers, formed a new kingdom called Ghana or Akwara new kingdom called Ghana or Akwar

Twin CitiesTwin Cities

Built capital – Built capital – Kumbi Saleh -on Kumbi Saleh -on the edge of the the edge of the SaharaSahara Kings and officers Kings and officers People living in six People living in six

miles betweenmiles between

Says who? I do…Says who? I do…

Ruled by a hereditary king called Ruled by a hereditary king called “Ghana” “Ghana”

King in charge of military and was King in charge of military and was supreme judge – believed to be supreme judge – believed to be partly divine and able to talk with partly divine and able to talk with godsgods

TradeTrade

King claimed to own all gold nuggets and King claimed to own all gold nuggets and others could only trade for gold dustothers could only trade for gold dust

Tremendously strong in tradeTremendously strong in trade

Life in GhanaLife in Ghana

King had 200,000 warriorsKing had 200,000 warriors Kingdom never converted to Islam Kingdom never converted to Islam

but allowed Muslims to stay therebut allowed Muslims to stay there Around 1075, Berbers (the Around 1075, Berbers (the

Almorvids) declared a holy war Almorvids) declared a holy war (jihad) on Ghana(jihad) on Ghana

Berbers controlled for 10 years Berbers controlled for 10 years before Ghana took back control before Ghana took back control

In closing…In closing…

Ghana was never as strongGhana was never as strong The Almorvids never recovered and The Almorvids never recovered and

fell apart into separate chiefdoms fell apart into separate chiefdoms again; however, many believe a again; however, many believe a magician came and started the Mali magician came and started the Mali Kingdom…Kingdom…

MaliMaliSecond Great Sahelian Second Great Sahelian

KingdomKingdom Historical founder Historical founder

was magician, was magician, Sundiata, who Sundiata, who ruled from 1230-ruled from 1230-12551255 11 of his brothers 11 of his brothers

were murdered so were murdered so Mali wouldn’t Mali wouldn’t threaten Ghanathreaten Ghana

The Battle at KirinaThe Battle at Kirina

Sundiata fought for a new kingdom Sundiata fought for a new kingdom while Sumanguru fought to keep while Sumanguru fought to keep Ghana in powerGhana in power

Battle of Sorcery OutcomeBattle of Sorcery Outcome

Blasts from the PastBlasts from the Past

Most significant Most significant of Mali kings was of Mali kings was Mansa Musa Mansa Musa (1312-1337)(1312-1337)

Established Established TimbuktuTimbuktu

DownfallDownfall

Berbers disrupted peace in 1430 – Berbers disrupted peace in 1430 – region of Gao fell apartregion of Gao fell apart

Led to rise of Songhai kingdomLed to rise of Songhai kingdom

SonghaiSonghai Managed thousands of Managed thousands of

culturescultures Was the largest empire in Was the largest empire in

African historyAfrican history Gao was Songhai’s capitalGao was Songhai’s capital Had originally competed Had originally competed

with Mali for controlwith Mali for control

Ali the TerrorAli the Terror

Sonny Ali was a Sunni king (1464-Sonny Ali was a Sunni king (1464-1492)1492) Ruthless tyrantRuthless tyrant Very strong militarilyVery strong militarily Ali captured Timbuktu and Jenne Ali captured Timbuktu and Jenne Pushed Berbers northPushed Berbers north

Askia Muhammad ToureAskia Muhammad Toure

Succeeded Ali Succeeded Ali established new established new

dynastydynasty Expanded empireExpanded empire

Toure de ForceToure de Force

Toure established Toure established an elaborate an elaborate governmentgovernment Appointed Muslim Appointed Muslim

judges to run under judges to run under Islamic legal Islamic legal principlesprinciples

Great Zimbabwe Great Zimbabwe “Mwenemutapa”“Mwenemutapa”

Includes present-Includes present-day Zimbabweday Zimbabwe

Surrounded by Surrounded by huge, elliptical huge, elliptical stone walls made stone walls made without any mortarwithout any mortar

TradeTrade ExportsExports Traded with Traded with

China, Persia and China, Persia and IndiaIndia

Cities grewCities grew

Truly AfricanTruly African

Considered by Considered by historians to be historians to be truly Africantruly African

Divine KingDivine King

King was considered divineKing was considered divine Kingdom weakened by internal Kingdom weakened by internal

brotherly quarrels beginning in the brotherly quarrels beginning in the 1500s1500s

Box ScoreBox Score

Kush – 750 – 350 A.D.Kush – 750 – 350 A.D. Ghana – 500 – 1235 C.E.Ghana – 500 – 1235 C.E. Mali – 1235 – 1468Mali – 1235 – 1468 Benin – 1000 – 1700Benin – 1000 – 1700 Songhai – 1468 – 1591Songhai – 1468 – 1591 Great Zimbabwe – 1000 – 1500Great Zimbabwe – 1000 – 1500