Early African Kingdoms
Early African Civilizations
Early Ghana
▪ Soninke – earliest people of West Africa
– Banded together for protection – beginning of Ghana
– Ghana’s farmers & herders produced plenty of food which in
turn contributed to Ghana’s growth
– Engaged in silent barter – a process in which people
exchange goods without contacting each other directly –
peaceful trade
– By 800 AD, controlled West Africa’s trade routes
Ghana Expands
– By 800 AD, controlled West Africa’s trade routes
– Ghana’s army kept trade routes safe
– Ghana’s kings kept huge stores of gold nuggets – common
people could only own gold dust
– Control over empire due to kings allowing conquered rulers
to retain much of their power
Ghana’s Decline
–Almoravids invaded, cut off trade routes
–Overgrazing – Almoravids brought herds of
animals that ate all the grass & exposed the
soil to desert winds
–In 1200, conquered people rose up and
rebelled
Early Mali
– Sundiata
▪ won Mali’s independence
▪ conquered Ghana
▪ took over trade
▪ improved agriculture – beans, onions, rice, &
cotton
▪ took power away from local leaders or mansas –
political & religious roles in society
Mali Under Mansa Musa
– Mansa Musa
▪ most famous Mali ruler
▪ rose to power under Sundiata
▪ Mali reached its height of wealth, power, & fame
Mali Under Mansa Musa
▪ Influenced the spread of Islam
–Sending scholars to study in Morocco
–Stressed importance of learning Arabic
–Hired architects to build mosques in Mali
–In 1431, Tuaregs, nomads, seized Timbuktu
Early Songhai
▪ Capital was Gao
▪ Traded with Muslim Berbers in North Africa
▪ Expansion under Sunni Ali – brought peace &
stability
▪ Sunni Baru, Ali’s son, who was not Muslim, was
overthrown
Songhai Under Askia the Great
▪ Muhammad Ture, a general, overthrew Sunni Baru
▪ Chose title of askia – a high military ranking title
▪ Created a professional army & specialized
government departments
▪ Set up 5 provinces to maintain order
Songhai’s Decline
▪ Morocco, a northern rival, wanted to control salt
mines
▪ Moroccan army carried arquebus – early form of a
gun
▪ Moroccan’s destroyed Timbuktu & Gao
Great Zimbabwe
▪ Founded in the late 1000s in South Africa
▪ Small trading & herding center
▪ Gold mining increased wealth – large trade
network
▪ Built huge stone-walled fortresses to protect
capital