Kingdoms of the Grasslands – West African
Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
Chapter 8 (2 of 4)
Need to
Know:
Ghana
Mali
Songhai
They are know as the
Sudanic states
Islam Spreads Quickly Through North Africa
Islam spread
mostly by
merchants and
travelers, not so
much invaders
By 700s, States
Formed Along Edge
of Sahara
Sahel – grassland
(savanna) at south end
of Sahara where these
states formed
West African grasslands
we are discussing
Advantages:
Grew by being along trade
route (gold traded from
west Africa for salt or dates
from Sahara)
Used camels to trade in the
desert
Disadvantages:
Suffered many droughts
Located on plains, so open
to invasion
West African or Sudanic States
These states were led by A majority of populations
a council of elders, and never converted to Islam,
would get control over
just the rulers (shows
neighbor states and tax that Islam blended with
them to get more
local cultures and
powerful
traditions)
West African or Sudanic States
• Resembled rest of north Africa, but distinctive
local architecture
• Towns were commercial – lots of trade and
craftsmen
• Large militaries to protect trade – encouraged
merchants and scholars to come to places like
Mali
Ghana
1st of the Sudanic states
Grew into strong state by
taxing gold and salt trade
that occurred there
Ghana was attacked in 1076
and began declining
By 900s, rulers had converted
to Islam
Attacked by Almoravids –
Muslim reformers within the
Berbers
Malinke (Mali)
people broke from
Ghana and formed
Mali in 1200s
King converted to
Islam to enhance
power (preached
loyalty to kings at
services)
Economy based on
agriculture and
trade (had access to
gold in south)
Juula = Malinke
merchants who
formed groups to
trade through west
Africa
Griots – oral
historians and
advisors to kings in
Africa
Mali
Click map for video on Mali
2 Most
Important
Leaders of Mali
Sundiata
• Nicknamed the “Lion Prince”
• Greatly expanded Mali
• Overcame regional fighting to
unite Mali as 1 powerful state
• Created basic laws for Mali
• Known as Mansa (emperor)
• Created social arrangement –
each clan had different
responsibility (helped unite
them)
• Severely punished crime to
protect trade and keep security
Mansa Musa
• Mansa Musa led Mali 13121337
• Went on hajj (pilgrimage) to
Mecca giving away gold to
show Mali’s wealth
• Brought back Ishak al-Sahili,
architect, built mosques and
unique form of Mali
architecture (out of beaten
clay; ex = mosque of Jenne)
• Mali’s contact with outside
world brought change and
innovation
Ibn Butata
Famed Arab traveler who
recorded his journeys.
Made trip through Africa
and recorded African
societies and cultures
Made journey to Mali
City in Mali
Population
over 50,000
Had a library
and
university
But 80% of
Mali lived
outside
cities in
farming
villages
Timbuktu
Savanna sandy and
shallow, tough to farm
Polygamy common –
more wives and
children, more help to
farm (still to this day)
Farming in
west
African
grassland
kingdoms
Most farms small and
privately owned
Used irrigation and
crop rotation to
overcome and supply
states with food
Grew rice, millet,
wheat, fruit, and
vegetables (used this
to supply merchants
coming through)
Ghana
Mali
Songhai
Songhai
• Located in Mali empire,
as Mali crumbled,
Songhai grew
• Along gold trade route
helped it grow
• Rulers became Muslim,
majority people didn’t
• Gao = capital of
Songhai, many
mosques and foreign
merchants living there
Led Songhai (14641492) – used
cavalry to expand
Songhai into huge
empire
Captured Timbuktu
and Jenne
Sunni Ali
Persecuted all who
opposed him
(including fellow
Muslims)
Set up bureaucracy
to rule far flung
areas of empire
Askia = title given to
rulers who followed
Sunni Ali
Muhammad the Great
Expanded Songhai so by 1500s it dominated central Sudan
Life in Songhai
Similar to life in the previous states in the savanna (Ghana and
Mali)
Islam blended with local pagan beliefs – upset ulama
(example = ulama upset women didn’t have to wear veils)
The Fall of Songhai
1591 – Songhai defeated by Morocco
(Songhai larger army, but Morocco had guns)
Defeat set off internal revolts and Songhai broke apart
Looking Back at Islam’s Impact on Sudanic (West African) States
Islam provided universal faith –
could unite people
Leaders surrounded
themselves with Muslim
scholars who helped rule
West African Traditions That Lived on
After the Fall of Songhai
Hausa people of northern Nigeria
formed states after Songhay
collapsed, blended Islam and
pagan traditions
Other states in the region
continued to blended Islam and
Paganism
These states used large cavalries
to protect trade (salt, grain, cloth)
These states were relatively small,
but continued culture of Ghana,
Mali, Songhai
Islam’s Affect on Slavery
Slavery existed prior to Islam
coming, but as Muslims
conquered Africa, slave trade
grew on huge scale
Muslims saw slavery as step
to converting people to Islam
Slaves used as servants,
laborers, soldiers,
administrators, eunuchs, and
concubines (so wanted to
enslave women and
children)
Slave trade lasted 700 years
and is an example of Islam’s
lasting impact on Africa