Today's Objectives/OutlineToday's Objectives/OutlineHow did life compare/contrast in these places instead of How did life compare/contrast in these places instead of Medieval Europe?Medieval Europe?

Check HW and VocabularyExplore Muslim Empire 640-1750 AD

◦Life for people in the Empire◦Advancements

Explore African Kingdoms (Ghana, Mali Songhai) Approx: 300-1600 AD ◦Life for people in these places◦Trade and the influences of the Muslim

Empire

Beyond Europe: Other Beyond Europe: Other Empires – Muslim Empire and Empires – Muslim Empire and African KingdomsAfrican Kingdoms

Key VocabularyKey VocabularyEmpire: group of nations or

peoples ruled over by an emperor (usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom) –Byzantine

Kingdom: a sequence of rulers from the same family or group

Clan: A family group

Islamic Empire OverviewIslamic Empire OverviewAfter the death of Muhammad, Islam began to

spread over the continent.The empire spread all over the world,

controlling areas in Africa, Asia, and Europe (Spain).

Roles of Men and WomenRoles of Men and Women

Advancements/LegaciesAdvancements/Legacies

During this time, there was much peace between Christians, Jews, and Muslims. That will change with the Crusades…..more on that later.

Advancements:Advancements:Scholarship thrived in the Muslim world

◦ They will translate many of the Greek and Roman writings/history into Arabic, there language, to preserve the knowledge.

Astronomy – build observatories to explore stars. ◦ Astrolabe, a device used to help navigate by using

the position of the stars to help determine where you were.

Muslims also made advances in mathematics◦ From India, adopted symbols 0 through 9. Making

its way to Europe, this system became known as Arabic numerals.

◦ Algebra and trigonometry also came from Muslim thinkers

African Kingdom’s African Kingdom’s OverviewOverviewAfrica produced many great

civilizations. During the time of the Middle Ages of Europe, the African kingdoms of Mali, Ghana and Songhay were places of advanced learning and great wealth.

Strong leaders and vast natural resources helped these cultures rule large areas of northern and western Africa for hundreds of years.

Daily Life of West African People◦Many men and women lived in small

villages. Often villagers from one town would trade with

the other for items that they needed.

◦People who lived in ancient African villages were members of a clan, a family group. Everyone worked together for the common

good. Their first thought was not, “I want to do this my way.”  Rather, their first thought was supposed to be, “I want to do what is best for the people in my village.” Villages were close-knit communities. 

Daily Life Continued:◦Villagers work together as a team.

They collectively worked the land, took care of the children, tended livestock, administered justice, and worshiped their ancestors. The community as a whole raised the children.

◦Griot: a storyteller. West Africans relied heavily on oral tradition and stories, they for the most part could not read and write. Wars could break out over a captured Griot, as there was usually just one per village.

Ghana developed in West Africa between the Niger (NI-jhur) and the Gambia Rivers. It was an important kingdom there from about AD300 to about 1000.

The rivers helped Ghana to grow rich because they were used to transport goods and develop trade. Ghana also collected taxes from traders who passed through the kingdom.

Ghana: 300-1000 AD

Ghana became a rich and powerful nation, especially when the camel began to be used as a source of transport. Ghana relied on trade, which was made faster and bigger with the use of the camel.

The various kingdoms in West Africa made very good trading partners. They each had something the other wanted. The north had salt. The south had gold. Ghana was in the middle. Ghana handled the trades. 

The King of Ghana was a very wise man. 

He did three things that he felt would protect his people. 

1.Tax: The first thing the king did was

charge a tax (a tribute, a tariff) on all people entering and leaving Ghana. This tax was paid in salt, iron, peacock feathers, fine silk, spices, and other luxury goods.  In exchange, Ghana warriors kept the trade routes open and protected from raiders. It was the tax that made Ghana Rich

Rather than meet and argue a price, gold would be left at a special place for the traders to take. If ample goods were not left in exchange, all trade ceased. The traders of Ghana did not speak the language of many of the new traders who crossed the Sahara via the Trans-Sahara Trade Routes.  

This system of silent barter worked very well. Traders were afraid to leave too little. They knew Ghana would stop trading. If anything, they left more than they normally would, to keep relations good and trade flowing.

2. Silent Bartering

3. Built a second city:

King of Ghana did not wish traders to enter his city on a routine basis or in an uncontrolled manner. To protect his people, he built a second city for the traders located about 6 miles from the main capital. The capital remained a city for the king and his people. The other, the new part of the city, was reserved for Moslem traders, merchants, and foreigners. 

Role of Islam -GhanaRole of Islam -GhanaWhen the traders from the east first

arrived in West Africa, the king of Ghana did not want his people to be bothered by the strangers, or tainted by their strange ways.

The king ordered a separate city to be built, a city just for traders. Although there was religious freedom in Ghana, few people knew about the Muslim way of life. The kings and people of Ghana continued to worship many gods, as they had always done.  

Mali: Mali: .Some royals had already

adopted the Muslim beliefs and way of life. Others joined them. There was religion freedom in Mali. Most common people continued to worship many gods and goddesses, in the old ways. 

Songhay Songhay By the time Mali declined in

strength, and Songhay rose in its place, Islam was firmly established. Songhay was a strong Muslim kingdom. Many common people had  also converted, although some continued in the old ways.

Overall impact on IslamOverall impact on IslamThe Muslin traders assisted in the

cultural and intellectual development of the people by introducing a written language, a written record of history, Muslim laws, books, and a system of formal education and study.

Mali and Songhay Mali and Songhay Both of these kingdoms will follow

Ghana and rule combined from around 1000-1600 AD.

They continue the trade system established by Ghana, but will also increase the spread of Islam and develop important educational centers of study, for example the city of Timbuktu is one of these trading and educational cities.

All three kingdoms of West Africa relied on trade for their strength and wealth.

Timbuktu

Gao

Jenne

Gold, Ivory, Wood, Slaves

Silk, Ceramics, Beads, Islam from Europe and Asia

Coming into West Africa

Coming from Africa and going to Europe and Asia

Salt