Ge graphy of AfricaGe graphy of Africa

• Tropical rainforests

• Africa’s largest and most populated climate zone is the

Savanna, or grassy plains. The savanna generally has good soil and enough rainfall to support farming.

• Another climate zone in Africa is the desert. The

Sahara, in northern Africa, is the biggest desert in the world. The desert is very dry therefore, farming is almost impossible.

• Mediterranean Climate

Ge graphy of AfricaGe graphy of Africa

Variety of climatesVariety of climates Dependence on NatureDependence on Nature Animism- Animism-

How would this affect trade?How would this affect trade?

Until…Until…

Kingdoms Of West AfricaKingdoms Of West AfricaMali, Ghana, and Songhai were among the richest of the West African states. They dominated the Sahara trade.

Two products that dominated

the Sahara trade were gold and salt. These commodities, or valuable

products, were plentiful.

Sahara Trade Routes

wanted

GOLD

wanted

SALT

Two products, gold and salt, dominated the Two products, gold and salt, dominated the Sahara trade. Sahara trade.

Gold was plentiful in present day Ghana, Gold was plentiful in present day Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal which is in West Nigeria, and Senegal which is in West Africa. They would trade their gold for salt Africa. They would trade their gold for salt with North Africa. North Africa was in need with North Africa. North Africa was in need of gold and West Africa was in need of salt. of gold and West Africa was in need of salt.

Salt was very important. People needed Salt was very important. People needed salt in their diet to prevent dehydration, salt in their diet to prevent dehydration, especially in hot, tropical areas.especially in hot, tropical areas.

Ghana Mali SonghaiGhana Mali Songhai

Around 750 AD , the people used iron weapons to unite the people in the

kingdom of Ghana. It was called “the land of

gold.” Ghana grew wealthy from its strategic

location inbetween to gold-salt trade route

Around 1240 AD the kingdom of Mali was

established. Mali’s kings were called

mansas. The greatest king of Mali, Mansa

Musa, expanded Mali’s borders and

worked to keep peace. He converted to Islam and actually fulfilled one of the five pillars of Islam by making the hajj. He formed

diplomatic and economic ties with

other Muslim states, and set up a rich

trading capital city, TIMBUKTU

The largest state that ever existed in West

Africa, Songhai continued to grow

wealthy off of trade. Like Mali, Songhai was also a Muslim State, but it will only last for 100 years before splitting

into many independent states and ending the ra of unified West African

Kingdoms.

Over thousands of years, migrations Over thousands of years, migrations contributed to diversity of African contributed to diversity of African people and their cultures. West African people and their cultures. West African farmers and herders moved to the farmers and herders moved to the south and east between 500 and 1500 south and east between 500 and 1500 AD. They spoke a variety of languages AD. They spoke a variety of languages that all came from the African root that all came from the African root language, Bantu.language, Bantu.

Benin

-Developed in the rain forest

-Captured other Africans and traded them with Europeans in the 16th Century

Ethiopia

-Developed from the African Christian Kingdom Axum

-Eastern capital Ethiopia traded with Muslims in the Indian Ocean

Regents Questions 1) The wealth and power of Mali’s ruler, mansa musa, were significant

because they contributed to the

a) Start of the crusades c) Spread of Islam

b) Growth of European nationalism d) Rise of Arab nationalism

2) The spread of Islam into the kingdoms of Ghana and Mali resulted from

a) Imperialism c) cultural diffusion

b) Ethnocentrism d) self- determination

3) Which civilization best completes the heading of the partial outline

____________

a)spread of Islam

b)Gold and salt trade

c) Growth of Timbuktu

d) Pilgrimage of Mansa Musa

1) Benin

2) Mali

3) Kush

4) Egyptian

Regents Questions4) Which description best characterizes the city of Timbuktu

a) Port of the water route to east Asia

b) Major urban and industrial center on the Silk road

c) Commercial and cultural center of West Africa

d) Inland city of the Hanseatic league

5) Which economic activity was the basis for most of the wealth and power of the West African empires of Ghana and Mali

a) Hunting and gathering

b) Farming and cattle ranching

c) Trading in salt and gold

d) Working in bronze and brass

Answers

1) c. the spread of Islam

2) c. cultural diffusion

3) c. Mali

4) c. commercial and cultural center of West Africa

5) c. trading in salt and gold

The End