Famous Empires of Africa

Aksum, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali and Songhai

Aksum: ~100-940 AD

• Geographically Lucky:– Environment allowed for farming– Near the Red Sea (easy to trade)

• Political Structure:– King only could directly control people in the city of Aksum. – Forced tribute from surrounding areas

• Religion:– King Enzana converted to Christianity (around 300 AD)

• Downfall:– Fell to invading Muslims between 600-700 AD

Ethiopia: ~1100-1974

• Created from ancient Aksum• Christianity was a unifying force• Solomonid Kings – claimed to be descendants

from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba• One of the only areas of Africa to never be

colonized by Europeans

Ghana ~830-1235• Traded salt from the north for gold- then traded salt with

southern civilizations - kings made money by heavily taxing the salt

• Kings also kept the location of the gold mines a secret and outlawed the ownership of gold – this kept the supply scarce and the price high

• Decline:– Used military force to maintain safe trade routes– This started a conflict with a northern Berber empire that

eventually captured Ghana’s capital city in 1076- this was the beginning of the end

Mali ~1230-1600• Rose from the ashes of Ghana – also traded gold and salt• Notable Leaders:

– Sundiata (Soohn-jaht-ah) ruled for 25 years.– Mansa Musa:

• Hajji of 1324 • gold impressed the world – soon Europeans were searching for this

wealthy, exotic land

• Decline:– Weak leadership – Invasion of the capital, Timbuktu, signaled the end was near

Songhai ~1340-1591• Survived as a tribute kingdom among Ghana and Mali for

hundreds of years• Traded along the Niger River• Sunni Ali –

– Created a fierce cavalry and “navy”– conquered others to create his empire

• Askia Muhammad– First Muslim Ruler – Hajji to Mecca created better trading roots– Overthrown by his son who was not a good ruler– In 1591 Morocco conquered the empire