West African Kingdoms

West African EmpiresWest African Empires

The Empire of GhanaThe Empire of Ghana750-1076750-1076

Political:

•Founded by Soninke people (750 CE)

•Led by powerful King who ruled over a splendid court - chose

princes and officials to govern – Worshipped as Divine

•Ghana means “War Chief”

•Capital city was Kumbi Saleh

•Had a large army of foot soldiers and cavalry (200,000) – helped to

expand kingdom

The Empire of GhanaThe Empire of Ghana

Economic System► Commercially based empire.

Gold-Salt Trade – led by camel caravans

► Controlled and secured trade routes with Muslim Berbers. Also traded in ivory, slaves,

horses, cloth, salt.► “Silent Trade” – dumb barter to

protect source of gold► Koumbi – major trading city► Conversion by emperors to Islam

improved diplomatic and economic relations between West Africa and the Islamic World.

The Empire of GhanaThe Empire of GhanaAchievements

► Influenced by Muslims: Military technology – iron tipped spears Sculptures, gold and silver jewels Arabic writing Architecture

► Royal tombs► Large armies► Women had a high status and active

role in market place

The Mali EmpireThe Mali Empire1100-14001100-1400

Mali EmpireMali EmpirePolitical:

► Sundiata – founder of Mali in 1230 CE► Ruled by powerful kings called Mansas

- Converted to Islam► Professional army► Expanded territory and appointed

governors to rule areas and collect taxes – strong local government, somewhat decentralized

► Women could hold government positions

► Laws based on Muslim system of justice (The Quran)

► Mansa Musa: Most powerful leader, converted to Islam and made pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)

Mali EmpireMali EmpireEconomic:

► Controlled Gold Salt Trade – seized gold producing areas

► Its wide variety of environments produced a wide variety of goods. – Fixed exchange rates

► The rule of the Mansa (king) created peace and security for merchants to travel and trade freely.

► Niani, Timbuktu, Gao – major trading cities

► As a result, merchants began to establish family firms, with different individuals settling in far-flung parts of the Mali empire to carry on trade.

► Common items of exchange were kola nuts, butter, textiles and metal goods.

Mali EmpireMali EmpireAchievements:

► Developed the city of Timbuktu which became a great trading city and center of Muslim learning. Invited Muslim Scholars to Mali

► Conversion to Islam and Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca brought world wide attention to West Africa

► Made the need of a large population and a large army a permanent necessity for states in West Africa.

Songhai Songhai EmpireEmpire

Political:► Sunni Ali- 1464 gained power and restored order► Powerful army used war and force to control region► Askia Muhammad- great leader who made pilgrimage to Mecca► Organized provinces and created a bureaucracy► Developed a code of laws based on Islam

Songhai EmpireSonghai EmpireEconomic:

► Controlled Gold Salt trade► Industrious farmers and skilled

craftsmen in iron and copper► Slave trade developed► Merchants became very wealthy and

influential► Timbuktu remained a major

economic and cultural city

Djenne MosqueDjenne Mosque

Songhai EmpireSonghai EmpireAchievements:

► Encouraged Muslim Scholars to settle in Timbuktu► Timbuktu became a cultural and learning center► University of Sankore - study of medicine, grammar, literature► Expanded empire with the use of force