WEST AFRICA UNIT OVERVIEW
7th Grade History
Jan. 12, 2016
GEOGRAPHY
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Geography explains where people live and how they
live.
Sahara (desert) spreads across the northern part of
West Africa
The Sahel is south of the Sahara and is semi desert
Most of W. Africa is savanna (tall grasses and
scattered trees with a long rainy season)
Tropical Rain Forests are wet and rain all year long
TRADE
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There were/are different resources depending on
the geography of where you lived
Rivers served as trading routes in W. Africa
THE RISE OF KINGDOMS AND EMPIRES
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Rulers collected tribute from people they
conquered.
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Advantages: protection
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Disadvantages: pay tribute
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Trade brought some cities great wealth.
GHANA
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500C.E.-1200 C.E.
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We learned about Ghana from Arab writing
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Ghana means “war chief.” They conquered their
neighbors to create a kingdom
Ghana’s wealth came from the trans-Saharan
trade routes. They traded gold for salt.
MALI
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War and loss of natural resources led to Ghana’s
downfall
Mali grew out of the fall of Ghana. 1240 C.E.
Mande conquered the city of Kumbi and created
the Mali kingdom
Mali also traded gold. Its leaders accepted Islam.
Islam became a major influence.
MANSA MUSA
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Mali king and was known for his wealth (1312
C.E.)
First king to go on the Hajj
His splendor was so great it became well known
around the world. By 1375, Mali appeared on
European maps of W. Africa
SONGHAI
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A group of people living in Mali. They created a
powerful army and conquered Mali in the 1460s.
Muslims rebelled and took over the Songhai and
went to war to convert non- Muslims.