3000 BC: leave West Africa (Nigeria) Head South and East
Why did the Bantu migrate? Farming methods caused migration:
slash and burn Couldn’t produce enough food
What changed in Bantu culture? Adopted new ideas from areas they
moved into
What did the Bantu add to African culture Language: Proto – Bantu Iron smelting Iron weapons gave the Bantu
advantages over other groups No written language. They used griots to
tell stories and history. (video)
700s: Ghana becomes a kingdom Soninke people farmed this region
Crossroads of Gold / Salt trade West African gold traded for North Africa
salt Ghana regulated and taxed trade
800: Ghana expands to an empire Used the regulation of gold
Islam spreads to Ghana from trade Religion divides the people
Ghana eventually falls to Muslim North Africans
1250 – 1450: Mali Empire Another empire built on gold trade
Sundiata 1240: captures the capital of Ghana Promoted gold and salt trade Promoted agriculture Expands the Mali empire
Mali people adopt Islam (video)
1312 – 1332: Mansa Musa becomes king Built a strong army Regulated the gold trade Doubled the size of the empire Made Timbuktu a center for Muslim
scholars and leaders
1400s: Songhai breaks away from Mali Gold trade moves into their lands Adopted Islam
1464 – 1492: Sunni Ali Built a strong military and captured
Timbuktu 1492: Askia Muhammed Expanded the empire1591: • Moroccan Army defeats Sonhai• Lacked modern weapons
Trade of Salt for Gold: West Africa to North Africa Trade of Asian good for African goods across the
desert Introduction of camel: enabled trade
Spread of Islam from Arabia North Africa to West Africa Swahili: Blend of Arabic and Bantu languages
Continues until the age of exploration and sea trade is better (video)
Causes of the fall of the Byzantine Empire (modern day Turkey) Constant bubonic plague (video) Crusades failures Attack by the Ottoman Turks
Results Islamic centers of learning emerge Trade increases Christians are not safe to travel to Holy
Land