Tayler Finch
Andre Connor
GHANA/MALI/SONGHAI
500 AD-1600 AD
Geography
 The northern fringe,
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surrounded by the
Mediterranean sea.
The sierra stretches from
the Atlantic to the Indian
Ocean.
Has grasslands and typical
forests along the coast.
Has the largest dessert on
earth.
The grassland mostly
populated by animals.
Religion
 They believed in only one god.
 The “Yoruba” religion was practiced by many
of the slaves transported to the Americans.
 Used ritual to communicate with their god.
 The rituals usually carried out by a special
class of people who believed they had the
power to foretell events, Usually working
with super natural forces.
Religion Con.
 The ceremonies were
dedicated to ancestors
because the ancestors
were believed to be
closer to the god.
 Ghana/Mali/Songhai
had the power to
influence for the good
or evil, the lives of their
descendants.
Achievements
 In the 14th century, 2
monumental buildings were
constructed in Kilwa of coral
cut from the cliffs along the
shore.
 Merchants in Mogadishu,
Mombasa and kilwa grew
very wealthy.
 Members of kilwas wealthy
elite built their houses near
the palace and great mosque.
 With imported Chinese
porcelain and indoor
plumbing these homes
provided a luxurious lifestyle.
Achievements Con.
 The Bantu- speaking people began to take
part in the regional sea trade up and down
the east African coast.
 The growth in regional trade following the
rise of Islam during the 7th and 8th centuries
A.D., the eastern coast of Africa became a
part of the trading network along the Indian
Ocean.
Politics
 West Africa’s Mali Empire, Musa amassed a
jaw-dropping $400 billion during his reign
from 1312 to 1337
 Mansa Musa gave away thousands of ingots
of gold, and Egyptian traders took advantage
of this by charging five times the normal price
for their goods. The value of gold in Egypt
decreased as much as 25 percent.
Politics
 King Mansa Musa is
Richest man in history Empire Mansa Musa
famous for his Hajj
journey, during which
he stopped off in Egypt
and gave out so much
gold that the Egyptian
economy was ruined
for years to come.
Economics
 Trades in gold, salt trade
 Trading with people of other regions of Africa
and later the Europeans.
 Key products in Africa were gold and salt
trades
 Traders, farmers, blacksmiths, soldiers.
 Copper was also a valued commodity in
imperial Mali. Copper, traded in bars, was
mined in the north and traded in the south for
gold.
Economics
 Traders, farmers,
blacksmiths, soldiers.
 Copper was also a
valued commodity in
imperial Mali. Copper,
traded in bars, was
mined in the north and
traded in the south for
gold.
Social Structures
 They had three hereditary classes, royals,
commoners and slaves.
 To keep order and assure someone is doing
the work, is the reason why these social
structures existed.
 The royals benefitted from the slaves and the
commoners and slaves were harmed by
killing and selling them.
Social
Structures Con.
 Royals ruled over everyone and slaves worked
in fields for the commoners. Also slaves
worked in the houses of the royals and
commoners traded goods, which also gave
royals money for the trades.
 You also could change your social status by
marrying a royal member.
Sources:
 http://www.islamawareness.net/Africa/Mali/mali
_article001.html
 http://www.timemaps.com/civilization/Africankingdoms
 http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/hi
story/ancient_ghana.php
 http://www.ushistory.org/civ/7a.asp
 http://www.mrdowling.com/609-ghana.html
 http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Anci
ent+Ghana