West Africa Geography
Mediterranean Sea Atlantic Ocean Sahara Desert Savannah Tropical Rain Forest Niger River
West Africa Trans-Saharan Trade
Initially traded on the outskirts of the Sahara Intro of camels =trans-Saharan trade
Carry more weight Extensive lengths of time w/o water Handle extreme desert temperatures Made goods more accessible
Gold, ivory, ostrich feathers, furs
As demand increased, so did settlements along the Sahara
Increase trade=increased interactions=exchange of ideas
West Africa Islam
Introduced as trade with Arab nations increase Followers called Muslims Popularity spread as a result of conflict and
promoting religious unity Prosperity linked to the prosperity of gold
High demand after the Muslim conquest of northern Africa (used as currency)
Trade increase as European contact became more prevalent in the late 1200’s with the shift form silver and copper coins to gold
By 1300’s, 2/3’s of the gold in Europe and North Africa came from West Africa
Empires of West Africa Between 400 and 1500 3 great empires
rose and fell in West Africa Growth and prosperity linked to trade
Gold Salt
Position in savannah allowed them to control trans-Saharan trade, which meant they were able to build wealthy and vast empires
Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
Empires of West Africa Ghana
Emerges around 400 AD Controlled trade and built the region’s first empire Gained wealth by taxing gold and salt after the
conquest of North Africa by Muslims Good relationship w/ Muslims who built mosques
in their major cities Most people were farmers and herders who did
not profit from trade Collapsed by the early 1200’s
War, over planting, new gold mines whose trade routes bypassed Ghana
Empires of West Africa Mali
Location enabled them to control trade to new mines
Wealth = conquest of Ghana and build large empire
Government Ruler = Mansa – lived in capital city Town rulers collected taxes in the form of crops that were sent
to the Mansa Used force to ensure power structure
Religion Muslim Many farmers adhered to traditional religions b/c they felt it
promoted agricultural prosperity
Empires of West Africa Mali (continued)
Peaked in the 1300’s under the leadership of Mansa Musa and his brother
Newly found gold mines allowed for the empire to expand
Built city of Timbuktu Cultural, political, and economic center
Empires of West Africa Songhai
Lived along Niger River Valley Fishing Built canoes Controlled trade along river
Sonni Ali – leader As Mali declined, seized Timbuktu in 1468 Began a series of conquests – salt and gold mines
Askiya Muhammad – Took power from Sonni Ali’s son Best known for his revival of Timbuktu Centralized power in capital city of Goa
Remained powerful until defeated by Morocco in 1591
Forest Kingdoms of Guinea West African coast in dense forests Mixture of hunters, farmers, and traders Small village communities Rich soil = surplus foods
Supported rulers, artists, government officials, and artisans
Traded for precious metals and salt Benin = largest city
Forest Kingdoms of Guinea Benin
Developed around 1400 Large walled cities Ruler = Oba Expanded military and began the conquest of
neighboring areas Appointed district chiefs to replace local rulers Began trading those captured in war as slaves the
Portuguese for goods they later sold (ivory, pepper, gum, and cotton)
Collapsed around 1700 due to civil war Many were then captured by Portuguese as slaves
Central and Southern Africa Rain forests made movement of goods and people
difficult Villages established near rivers
Fishing, planting wheat, raising livestock Others practiced a nomadic lifestyle
Social Roles: Close and complex family structure Matrilineal societies – trace heritage through mother Women – home, children, trade, farming Men – hunting, fishing, raise livestock Tribal chief was male – (job inherited by the son the the
chief’s oldest sister
Central and Southern Africa Congo
Developed around 1400 near the Zaire River Food Surpluses
Abundant rain, fertile soil
Quickly expanded and became a large empire
Slavery Common in Africa Never based on race (until intro of the slave trade)
War Debt Crime
Not permanent Bought back Assimilated into the culture
Opportunities to improve status Sale produce to purchase freedom Marry into capture’s society
Slavery How and Why did slavery change?
Muslim traders Permitted slavery of non-Muslims Traded captured warriors for goods
Gold Trade Mining Mali provided slaves to Portuguese in exchange for gold
Sugar Plantations Europe was introduced to sugar by Muslims in the 1100’s Causing and increased demand = need for more workers Established sugar plantations on Mediterranean islands Work was labor intensive and expensive = encouraged
use of slaves Rising demand led to further plantation development off
the coast of West Africa