The Kingdoms of West Africa
Empire of Ghana
Trade was vital to the societies of West Africa. That region
produced valuable resources—notably gold—that brought high
prices. By the 800s, rulers of Ghana had used the wealth from
these products to create a huge, powerful empire.
The Rise of Ghana
• Ghana had many
resources, but
location delayed
development as
trading empire
• Had no easy access
to sea
• Sahara desert
blocked overland
trade routes
Desert Travel
Goods for Gold
• First few centuries
CE, North African
traders learned how
to cross Sahara
• Once traders began
crossing Sahara,
Ghana became key
player in African trade
• Traveled in large
caravans with camels
• Berber traders traded
food, hard goods,
copper, salt for gold
• Camels did not need
much water, could
survive trip across
harsh desert
• Ghana traded salt to
people in south,
where salt scarce
A Trading Empire
Control
• 800 AD, Ghana controlled nearly all trade of salt, gold in sub-Saharan Africa
• Capital, Koumbi-Saleh, located between Ghana’s gold mines, desert trade
routes, was preferred trading place
Salt Taxes
• Ghana’s kings built great wealth taxing goods brought to empire’s markets
• Majority of taxes charged on salt: charged fee for each load of salt brought
into Ghana from north, larger fee for each load exported to south
Gold Supply Scarce
• Gold not taxed the same; taxes might discourage traders from buying gold
• To keep gold prices high, kings ruled only they could own large gold nuggets
• Others could only own gold dust; kept location of gold mines secret
• This kept supply of gold scarce; kept market from being flooded
Kings of Ghana
Money from trade & taxes allowed kings to live lavish lifestyle
Luxury surrounding kings described by Muslim writer who
visited Ghana:
“He sits in a pavilion around which stand ten pages holding shields and
gold-mounted swords: and on his right hand are the sons of the
princes of the empire, splendidly clad and with gold plaited into their
hair.”
Ghana’s kings also used wealth to build up huge army when
needed
 Used army to conquer other peoples in area
 Captured people sold as slaves to Muslim traders
Ghana’s Decline
Attempts at Expansion
Results of Conflict
• By mid-1000s, Ghana’s
empire rich and powerful
• Almoravids controlled
capital temporarily
• King tried to expand to
north into lands controlled
by Almoravids, a Muslim
Berber kingdom
• Ghana’s empire was
weakened
• Attempt led to long war
• In 1076, Almoravids
captured Koumbi-Saleh,
Ghana’s capital
• King unable to deal with
rebellion in part of empire
• Soon Ghana fell into
decline; new empire took
its place
Summarize
How did the kings of Ghana become wealthy?
Answer(s): by taxing salt and gold, by
controlling the price of gold
Mali Empire
After Ghana’s decline, no one kingdom controlled trans-Saharan trade.
In the 1230s, the empire of Mali rose to power on the same territory.
Mali expanded to the Atlantic Ocean and became a wealthy and
sophisticated empire.
Rise of Mali
Sundiata
• Founders of Mali, Malinke had
been active in Ghana’s gold trade
• Leader of Mali’s rise to power, king
named Sundiata
• 1230, grew frustrated with policies
of neighboring peoples, rose up to
conquer them; became leading
power in West Africa
• After conquest, Sundiata ruled 25
years
• Story of reign, accomplishments
told in epic, also called Sundiata
Mali reached its height in the 1300s under the reign of a mansa, or
king, named Musa.
Mansa Musa
A relative of Sundiata, Mansa Musa came to power in 1307. During
his reign, Mali’s territory expanded and its population grew.
Growing Wealth
• During Musa’s reign, Mali grew
wealthier than ever
Islam in Mali
• Mansa Musa devout Muslim
• Much wealth came from
taxation of gold-salt trade
• Introduced into West Africa by
Muslim traders in Ghana,
Islam did not take hold initially
• Mali kept order along Saharan
trade routes by using large
army
• In Mali, Islam became
powerful influence, especially
among ruling class
• Army also kept life in Mali
relatively peaceful
• 1324, Musa set out on a
pilgrimage to Mecca
Musa’s Pilgrimage to Mecca
• Musa and entourage impressed people with their lavish clothing,
generous gifts, and large amount of gold
• Trip to Mecca led to great changes in Mali, Timbuktu
• Returning to kingdom, Musa brought artists, architects who designed
beautiful mosques; also built schools, libraries where people could
study Qu’ran, other Islamic writings
Effects Outside Africa
• Musa’s hajj (pilgrimage) brought
Mali to attention of Europe
• Mali began to appear on European
maps for first time
• Within a century, Europeans began
to search West Africa for source of
Mali’s riches
Decline of Mali
• Rulers following Musa not as strong
• Several peoples broke away, set up
independent kingdoms
• Mali also invaded from outside
• Among invaders, Tuareg
• 1433, captured Timbuktu, a blow
from which Mali never recovered
Analyze
What effects did Mansa Musa’s travels have in
Mali and Europe?
Answer(s): Made Timbuktu a center of learning;
brought Mali to the attention of Europeans, who
would later travel to West Africa in search of Mali's
riches
Empire of Songhai
Songhai
• Songhai existed as small kingdom for centuries, paid tribute to Ghana & Mali
• Grew wealthy trading goods along Niger River
• Came in contact with Muslim traders; Islam became influence on culture
Rise of Songhai
• 1460s, rulers had become strong, rich enough to take control of former empire of
Mali
• Songhai’s rise under leadership of military leader, Sunni, named Sunni Ali
Military Leadership
• Ali’s first act as leader: took Timbuktu from the Tuareg
• Led number of campaigns against neighboring peoples to build empire
• Military success came from army of skilled cavalry, navy of war canoes
• Conquered new territories, replaced local leaders with Ali’s own followers
Askia Muhammad
• Songhai’s culture reached height under Askia Muhammad
• Reign considered to be golden age
• During 35 years he ruled, Askia Muhammad expanded Songhai, strengthened its
government
Pilgrimage
• Askia Muhammad, Songhai’s first Muslim ruler
• Islam had been introduced earlier; Sunni Ali never became Muslim
• To show commitment, Askia Muhammad decided to make pilgrimage to Mecca
• Traveled through Egypt, gained support of Muslim rulers
Results of Pilgrimage
Trade Resumed
• During pilgrimage, Askia
Muhammad made contact with
traders from North Africa
• Trans-Saharan trade that had
slowed after fall of Mali resumed
once again
• Increased commerce made
Songhai very wealthy kingdom
• Askia Muhammad used wealth to
once again make Timbuktu center
of culture, Islamic scholarship
Control, Decline
• To secure control of trade, Askia
Muhammad extended Songhai’s
borders north into desert, home of
the Tuareg
• Did not want raiders to interfere
with traveling merchants
• Reformed government, built offices
in capital city of Gao to oversee
trade, agriculture, military
• Eventually overthrown by son
• By 1591 empire conquered by
Morocco
Describe
What kind of government did Askia Muhammad
create in Songhai?
Answer(s): strengthened the government, appointed
an official to rule the western part of the empire
Miscellaneous Information
Swahili culture/language= blending of African
(Bantu) and Arab traders
African slave trade began to increase during
this period in world history
East Africans, Arabs, and Indians traded along
the east coast of Africa (Through the use of
Lateen sail boats called Dhow)