Early African Kingdoms & Empires

Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY

Political unit having an extensive territory comprising of a number of territories. They may consist of

many nations and are generally ruled by a single supreme authority.

Characteristics of An Empire

• Include Class Division• Relatively large geographical area and population• Have a supreme ruler at the top of the class

pyramid• Usually include people with different cultures and

languages.• Contain an active network of trade both within the

empire and with groups outside the empire

Empires arise through the unification of groups for trade purposes or by a dominant groups

conquest of surrounding areas.

Empires are most likely to arise in areas that allow relatively easy transportation and

has rich natural resources.

Berbers

GOLDGOLD

SALTSALT

Gold-Salt Trade

Gold “Money”, Ghana/Ivory Coast

Ghana Empire [4c-11c]

Salt

Mali Empire [13c-15c]

GOLDGOLD

SALTSALT

Timbuktu-”Heavenly Clay”

Timbuktu Rooftop, Mosque

Tuaregs

Marketplace near the Niger River

Mosque in Gao

Great Mosque at Djenne, Mali

Distant Mosque at Djenne, Mali

Sundiata [1210-1260]

“Lion Prince”

Mansa Musa [r. 1312-1337]

European Map

Mansa Musa [r. 1312-1337]

Songhai Empire [15c-16c]

GOLDGOLD

SALTSALT

Sunni Ali [r.1464-1492]

Askia Mohammed [r.1493-1529]

Askia Mohammed’s Tomb [1443-1538]

Gao, Mali

Benin Empire [15c-19c]

Bronze Heads from Benin (16c)

Benin Bronze Leopard