West African Empires
There were three West African empires
that lasted from 700 AD-1600AD
Ghana Empire 700 AD-1100AD
Mali Empire 800 AD- 1550 AD
Songhai Empire 1300 AD-1600 AD
Geography

South of the Sahara desert
 Located near the Niger
river
 Sand blocks were
available to build with
Salt-gold trade
 Grassy area
Religion
 Christianity was the first religion
Islam became the majority of the religions during
the Songhai empire
Islam teachings were used as a unifying force.
 Top of society people converted to Islam
 Bottom of society people did not
Achievements
•
•
•
•
•
Second largest empire in the world
Opened a trade route to the Americas
Built ships
Textile (clothes) production
Timbuktu became world renowned
place of study
Politics
 King ruled
 Centralized government
 Used iron weapons and tools were used to expand
control over neighboring people
 Gold field locations were a secret
Gold was valuable
 Wealth from gold fields
 Tax was place on all goods and
exited the empire.

Social Structures
• Kings or rulers were the most important people.
• Priest were next
• Clan system (clan they belong to decided job such as
metal worker)
• Bottom of heap slaves
• Slaves were taken along during trades and sometimes
were traded or sold during the travel
•
•
•
•
•
Lasted from 700AD-1600AD
Centralized government
Wealth from gold fields
Powerful and centralized military
40 – 50 million people
The empire extended across West Africa to
Atlantic Ocean
Where did the West African Empires wealth
come from?
 A. Gold Fields
C. Taxes

 B.
Iron tools
D. Both A and C
 What
did the West African empires have that
allowed them to expand control over
neighboring people?
 A. Centralized government C. Iron weapons
 B.
Islam religion
D. Water supply
 During
which empire was the golden age?
 A. Ghana Empire
B. Mali empire
 C. Songhai Empire
D. All of the above
Citation List
http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/students/curriculum/m7a/activity3.php
http://chnm.gmu.edu/fairfaxtah/lessons/documents/africaPOSinfo.pdf
http://mali.pwnet.org/history/history_mali_empire.htm
http://www.sfponline.org/Uploads/91/Global_Regents_Review_Packet_8.pdf
http://www.timemaps.com/civilization/African-kingdoms
www.africa.mrdonn.org/mali.html