KINGDOMS AND STATES OF AFRICA

Chapter 7, section 2

Ghana, Mali, and Songhai The expansion of trade led to migration

and the growth of new kingdoms

The Kingdom of Ghana First great trading state in West Africa.

Upper Niger River valley Most were farmers who lived under a local

ruler. Villages formed the kingdom of Ghana.

King Governed w/o laws; had a regular army of

thousands.

Ghana Economy and Trade

Prospered from gold and iron. Skilled blacksmiths were highly valued.

Abundance of Gold! Muslim merchants brought metal goods, textiles, horses, and

SALT. Silent Trade

Merchants place their wares and cloth on the ground and then depart, and so the people of the Sudan coming bearing gold which they leave beside the merchandise then depart.

Berbers, nomadic people were crucial to trade across the Sahara. “fleets of the desert”

Weakened by Wars.

Mali Mali became the greatest the trade

society in West Africa. Established by Sundiata Keita.

Defeated the Ghanians in 1240 Timbuktu

Famous trading city. Gold and salt trade.

Local rulers Both religious and administrative leaders.

Responsible for sending taxes to the kings of Mali.

Mali Mansa Musa

One of the richest and most powerful kings. Doubled the size of the kingdom. Strong central government

Kingdom divided into provinces (w/a governor) Devout Muslim

Went on pilgrimage to Mecca with thousands of servants and soldiers!

Lavished his hosts with gold! He put so much gold into circulation, he caused its

value to Fall!

Mali Mansa Musa

Great pilgrimage did two things: Showed all that he was a great ruler, He was inspired to make Timbuktu a center of

Islamic learning and culture. Mosques, libraries, brought scholars back

Timbuktu was seen as one of the intellectual capitals of the Muslim world.

By 1359, civil war divided Mali.

Songhai Along the Niger River Kossi

Converted to Islam and established the Dia Dynasty.

Benefitted from Muslim trade routes. Sunni Ali

Sunni Dynasty, 1464 Took Timbuktu and Jenne (this gave him

control of the trading empire).

Songhai Muhammad Ture

Height of Songhai power. Overthrew the son of Sunni Ali and seized

power in 1493. New dynasty= Askia [means “usurper”] Maintained order with navy and soldiers on

horseback. Slow decline, then quickened by 16th

century. Sultan of Morocco occupied Songhai.

Societies in East Africa Migration of Bantus

Farming people belonging to Bantu family of languages.

From Niger River region East Africa.

Bantu Migration

Bantu Communities based on Subsistence

farming Division of labor for men and women.

Spread knowledge of iron-smelting techniques across Africa. Knowledge of high-yield crops too.

Descendants established city of Great Zimbawbe. Dominated the trade route to the coast.

Indian Ocean Trade and Ports The East African coast became an

important part of the trade network along the Indian Ocean. Muslims from the Arabian peninsula and the

Persian Gulf began to settle at ports along the coast.

AFRICAN KINGDOMS

Mogadishu

Mombasa

Kilwa

Great Mosque of Kilwa

Swahili Mixed African-Arabian culture. Intermarriage was common among the

ruling groups. Muslim religion and Arabic architectural

styles became part of society. Swahili = “coast” in Arabic.

Mixed language– Bantu + Arabic words/phrases.

National language of Kenya and Tanzania