AfricaGhana, Mali, & Songhai Empires
Section 1: African Culture
African Tribal Life
● Focus on group, not individual● Group owns all land● Strong loyalty to group● Ceremonies to celebrate stages of life● Age & work associations● Respect for ancestors● Importance of religion● Gov’t is the responsibility of chiefs (kings)
Nomadic Lifestyle● Men = hunters● Women = gatherers● Hunting and gathering food creates a nomadic lifestyle
Social Structure of a Tribe (Clan)● Male leaders
○ Fathers, uncles, or father-in-laws● Does not give orders● Freedom to leave tribe if wanted
Importance of Family● Clans form based on families● Several clans (tribes) share power● No one single ruler
Lineage● Members of a lineage all descend from a common
ancestor○ Lineage includes past & future generations
Tracing Family Descent● Matrilineal societies trace their ancestors through their
mothers● Patrilineal societies traces their ancestors through their
fathers
Section 2: Empire of Ghana
(c. 400-c. 1200 CE)
Trade Across the Sahara● Trade increased across the Sahara due to camels
○ Could travel further in desert conditions
The Soninke● Trade routes est. in the region farmed by the Soninke ● Soninke called their chief ghana● Muslim traders began to call the region ghana
○ Ghana empire developed
Ghana’s Wealth● Ghana empire grew wealthy by taxing traders
○ Gold and salt were two main items● Ghana chiefs demanded taxes and gifts from surrounding
tribes
Conversion to Islam● Ghana rulers converted to Islam
○ Through trade○ Encouraged literacy
● Most people kept animistic beliefs, or practiced both
Section 3: Empire of Mali
(c. 1200-1600)
Mali Emerges● Trade routes shifted east with the discovery of gold● Empire built on gold
Sundiata● Mali’s first mansa, or emperor● Reestablished gold/salt trade● Mali became a center of trade
Mansa Musa● After Sundiata’s death, some Mali leaders converted to
Islam● Mansa Musa was next great leader
○ Doubled size of Mali○ Divided into provinces
■ Governor in charge of each
Mansa Musa’s Net Worth● $400 billion
Let’s compare…
● Justin Bieber-$225 million● Tom Brady-$180 million● Amancio Ortega (richest man in the world)-$71 billion
Hajj● Mansa Musa went on hajj to Mecca● Upon return, built many mosques and universities
○ Est. Timbuktu as a major trade city■ Attracted many important Muslims
Ibn Battuta● Islamic explorer● Visited Mali
○ Impressed by judicial system and lack of crime
Section 4: Empire of Songhai
(c. 1400-1600)
Sunni Ali● Built a professional army
○ War canoes○ Soldiers on horseback
● Expanded Songhai into an empire○ Captured Timbuktu
Askia Muhammad● Very religious
○ Overthrew Sunni Ali’s (not very religious) son● Excellent ruler
○ Able officials○ Efficient tax system○ Ministers of treasury, army, navy, and agriculture
Decline of Songhai● Chinese invented gunpowder● Arabs invented guns● Songhai only had spears and swords
○ Quickly defeated● Ended a 1000 year period where empires ruled western
Africa