Western Africa (General Information)
Culture:
Art: West African art was a way to express their culture or religion. They make their art out of clay and stone to make figures
Language: Hundreds of separate dialects emerged from different west African clans in modern Nigeria, nearly 500 languages are still spoken. Religion: Mali replaced Ghana as a leading state in West Africa and after Sundiata's rule, the court converted to Islam, and Muslim scribes as it played a large part in administration and government Social Norms: West Africa stretches from modern-day Mauritania to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Around 600 CE most Africans lived in the driest areas and which were hunters and gathered sheep, goats, cattle and camels to help moved heavier items. |
|
Slavery:
European slave traders began to meet with armed resistance from people who lived on the West African coast.
|
Why is Western Africa Important?
|
Ghana Empire
Ghana Empire Overview:
The Ghana Empire was one of the earliest successful kingdoms in Western Africa. It was located in the northwestern savannah near modern day Mali and Mauritania.
|
Economical Development:The Ghana Empire became an empire who dominated the trade routes among the African continent. Kings typically oversaw trade routes and implemented a taxation system among resources that entered and exited the empire. Goods were typically taxed twice: once when they entered the territory and once when they left the territory. Trading was usually facilitated among both land and near waterways (ex: Niger River).
Gold was an extremely popular resource and was typically traded to other empires, city states, or territories located both on the African continent and in the Middle East. Ivory and Copper were also traded among these routes along with other resources such as iron and ostrich feathers. The Ghana empire became so successful from trading that it was known as the "fabulous gold of the land". |
Issues & Eventual Fall:As time passed, the Ghana Empire began to suffer from civil wars. In addition, their economy began to collapse due to the loss of control over Western Africa trade routes. The ongoing development of newer, powerful empires pushed Ghana on the brink of collapse. Eventually the empire dissolved in 1240 CE with the founding of the Mali Empire occurring soon after.
|
Additional Information:
|
Mali Empire:
- The Mali Empire expanded upon Ghana’s trade routes
- They created their wealth
- By 1200CE Mali became the leading state in West Africa
- Mali was ruled by Mansa Musa
- Timbuktu is the leading Islamic center for education and the capital city of Mali
- Mali’s power was displaced by Songhai
- Was founded after the fall of the Ghana Empire
Mali And Its Trade
The Mali empire was well known for its wealth and trade connections of their time. Most of their wealth was due to the fact that they had an abundance of gold at their disposal. They also had some trade with neighboring empires, but most of their trade routes were due to the efforts of one of Mali's prolific rulers, Mansa Musa. Mansa Musa made a trip all the way to Mecca. On this trip, he made trade connections. Also, Mali had three forms of income. They would control trading all along their trade routes, taxing the passage of goods, buying goods and selling them for higher prices, and having access to valuable resources. Also, Mali controlled many regions that provided lots of gold to the empire.
|
The Rise and Fall of the Mali Empire
Mali was first established by Sundiata Keita after he defeated the Sosso empire in the battle of Kirina. Through the years of his leadership, he expanded Mali through conquest and gaining control over gold and salt trade routes. He also established a capital for the empire at Niani. Years later, Mansa Musa became the king of the Mali empire. As king, he embarks on a pilgrimage to Mecca bringing lots of gold along his journey and lots of followers. Along the way, he established lots of trade routes. Once at Mecca, he gained lots of knowledge and brought back Arab scholars, architects, and government bureaucrats. Doing all these things made the Mali empire extremely more powerful. Due to this journey, he also gained lots of fame and established Mali as a major center of trade and scholarship. Mansa Musa established Timbuktu as a center of Islamic scholarship and learning. Once Mansa Musa died, the Mali empire started to decline because they could not decide on a clear ruler for the Mali empire. This led to a lot of internal conflict in Mali, weakening the empire as a whole. Other empires took this as an opportunity to rebel against Mali and over time they wore down the Mali empire and the Songhai empire conquered Mali.
Songhai Empire:
General information
|
Bibliography:
- “Africa’s Rich Human Geography.Pdf.” Google Drive, Google, drive.google.com/file/d/1Gv5HC9fe_N3KW5RFd6GvPgMsecteIUQ0/view. Accessed 17 Oct. 2023.
- Cartwright, Mark. “Ghana Empire.” World History Encyclopedia, https://www.worldhistory.org#organization, 14 Oct. 2023, www.worldhistory.org/Ghana_Empire/.
- “Mali.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 12 Oct. 2023, www.britannica.com/place/Mali.
- White, Deborah Gray, et al. Freedom on My Mind: A history of African Americans, with Documents. Bedford/St. Martin’s 2013.