EMPIRES OF WEST AFRICA

GHANA:800-1200

LOCATION:
GHANA WAS LOCATED SOUTH OF THE SAHARA DESERT AND NORTHWEST OF THE NIGER RIVER.

IRON AND POWER:

• They used iron to make weapons for a more powerful army.
• Making iron farming tools meant they could feed more people.

ECONOMY: TAXES AND GOLD:
Ghana gained wealth from taxes by taxing traders.

PRODUCTS TRADED:

• Salt
• Gold
• Ivory
• Slaves

3 REASONS SALT IS IMPORTANT:

• It was needed for good health.
• Salt preserved their food so it would last longer.
• It would make bland food taste better.

MAJOR CITIES:

• Kumbi Saleh
• Taghaza
• Wangara

GHANA'S DECLINE:
Invaders from North Africa caused Ghana to slowly decline. Loss of trade also contributed.

MALI: 1200-1500

LOCATION
Mali is located in West Africa.

SUNDIATA:
He was the founder of the Mali empire and ruled from 1235 to 1255 C.E.

ECONOMY:
They traded gold and collected taxes from traders.

PRODUCTS TRADED:

• Gold
• Salt

RELIGION AND MANSA MUSA'S PILGRIMAGE:
Mansa musa was a muslim that was a king of Mali that made a pilgrimage to Mecca handing out gold on the way. He brought back muslim architecture.

EDUCATION AND CULTURE FLOURISH UNDER MANSA MUSA.

• He built many schools and universities in Mali.
• Education was free.
• He built mosques in Mali

MAJOR CITIES

• Timbuktu
• Djenne
• Gao

THE FALL OF MALI:
They were attacked from the Noth and the South and the invaders disrupted trade.

SONGHAI: 1500 TO 1590

LOCATION
Songhai was located in West Africa.

SUNNI ALLI

• He founded the Songhai empire and was king.
• He was a great military leader.
• He was in power from 1464 to 1492.

ASKIA THE GREAT

• He became king of Songhai in 1493.
• He was a devout Muslim
• He conquered many lands.

MAJOR CITIES

• Timbuktu
• Djenne
• Gao

SONGHAI FALLS TO MOROCCO
In 1591, Morocco invaded Songhai and the empire collapsed.