Lecture Notes
Africa Before European Exploration
GPS SSWH6
• The student will describe the diverse characteristics of
early African societies before 1800 CE.
• b. Describe the development and decline of the
Sudanic kingdoms (Ghana, Mali, Songhai); include the
roles of Sundiata, and the pilgrimage of Mansa Musa to
Mecca.
• c. Describe the trading networks by examining transSaharan trade in gold, salt, and slaves; include the
Swahili trading cities.
• e. Analyze the role of geography and the distribution of
resources played in the development of trans-Saharan
trading networks.
ROLE OF GEOGRAPHY
–Africa is symmetrical
–Geographic features impede
Africa’s ability to connect
• Sahara
• Rain Forest
• Nile River
• Analyze the role of geography and the distribution of resources played in the
development of trans-Saharan trading networks.
Trading Networks
• Trans-Saharan Trade describes the trade between
the Mediterranean region across the Sahara Desert
to West Africa
• Trade was conducted by a Islamic traders in a
caravan of camels whose average size consisted of
at least 1000 camels.
• Gold and Salt were the main trade items.
• Approximately many as nine million African slaves
were sent along the trans-Saharan caravan route.
•
•
The trans-sahara trade was used primarily to trade gold, ivory, spices, wheat, animals, and plants. The port city of
Carthage became a hub for west African gold, ivory, and slaves. West Africa received salt, cloth, beads, and metal goods
in return. Mediterranean economies were short of gold but could supply salt, whereas West African countries had
plenty of gold but needed salt.
Describe the trading networks by examining trans-Saharan trade in gold, salt, and slaves; include the Swahili trading
cities.
3 Ancient Empires (West Africa)
• 3 major Empires (all wealth based on trans-saharan
trade)
– Ghana
– Mali
• First Emperor: SUNDIATA aka LION KING of MALI
• Converts his people to ISLAM
• Wealth based on GOLD
• Descendent: MANSA MUSA
Establishes many trading posts and the great city of
TIMBUKTU
- SONGHAI