The Empires of Africa
Ghana
to
Zimbabwe
The West African Kingdoms
Kingdom of Ghana
Kingdom of Ghana
First powerful west African kingdom
– Located between the Senegal and Niger
rivers
– Founded by Soninke people around 300AD
• Height reached between 800 and 1200AD
– Capital = Kumbi Saleh
Kingdom of Ghana
Reasons for development
– Gold Trade
• Provides ruler with wealth and
power
– Iron Weapons
• Give Soninke a military advantage
over their neighbors
– Use of Horse and Camel
• Increase transportation and connect
parts of kingdom
Decline of Ghana
Almoravid rulers from the north
attack Ghana
– Call for jihad against the non-Muslim
rulers of Ghana
– In 1054, they capture the capital
Soon after, Almoravid rule weakens
– Parts of the kingdom break away, and
Ghana becomes fractured into smaller
states
Kingdom of Mali
Kingdom of Mali
 Develops after the fall of Ghana
– Height around 1200 to 1400AD
– Located in territory of Ghana, plus additional territory
 Begun by the Mandingos
– Same pattern as Soninke; conquer neighboring cities
and establish control over certain areas
 Several great centers of learning were established
during the Mali kingdom
– Timbuktu, Djenne, Gao
Mansa Musa
Mansa was the name given to
the ruler of Mali
– Musa was a very wealthy and
famous ruler
– Ruled from 1312 to 1337
– Captured city of Taghaza, and its
salt mines; brought him even
more power
Musa’s Impact
Musa converts to Islam
– Many officials do the same; local people retain
traditions
– Musa bases justice on the Koran
Musa’s Pilgrimage to Mecca
– Won him worldwide fame; traveled with
60,000 people, 80 camels and 300 lbs. of gold
– His “charity” disrupted the economy of Egypt
Musa, Islam and Timbuktu
The Decline of Mali
Mali begins to break apart in the early
1400’s
– Rulers after Musa were not as able
Regions and cities begin to break away
from Mali control
– Mali exists for centuries after, but only as a
small kingdom
The Rise of
Songhai
 Develops after the decline of Mali
– Centered in the city of Gao
 Encompasses part of former kingdom of Mali,
plus land to the east and north
– Established between 1350 and 1600AD
Rulers of Songhai
**2 powerful rulers during the height of Songhai
 Sunni Ali –
– In 1464 he seizes the cities of Timbuktu and Djenne,
which had been parts of Mali
– Attempts to restore peace and security to trade routes
 Askia Muhammed – assumes power in 1493
– Songhai reaches its height under Askia; sets up strong
central government
– Makes a pilgrimage to Mecca
• Encourages Muslim scholars to move to Timbuktu; becomes
great center of learning
The Decline of Songhai
Moroccans invade Songhai in 1591
– Had heard of the wealth of Mali
Cross Sahara with more powerful weapons
(guns, cannon)
– Arrows and spears of defenders are no match
for Moroccans
**This marks the end of the great kingdoms
of West Africa
Great Zimbabwe
 Located in region of Zambezi and Limpopo
rivers
– Bantu-speaking people from central Africa begin to
migrate south and east
– Brought iron and agriculture with them
 First centralized state was known as “Great
Zimbabwe”, or “stone enclosure”
– Was a fortification surrounded by huge, elliptical
stone walls made without mortar
Great Zimbabwe
FrontPage: NNIGN
The Last Word: “Letter to the Editor” due Wednesday
Sample letter to the editor
 Dear Editor,
 I recently read an article in the Post-Gazette regarding the lack
of civilizations in Africa. There were some facts in that article
which I think are incorrect, and I would like to set the record
straight.
 First, ancient civilizations did exist in Africa. One of the
characteristics of a civilization is the establishment of
permanent structures and settlements. There were great stone
houses built at Zimbabwe, and these structures show that there
was civilization present there. Also, to be a civilization, a
group needs to trade with other societies. The Ghanan empire
of West Africa did just that, trading gold for salt and other
important goods….
 In conclusion, the quote by John Burgess is just not true. The
African continent has provided us with a great deal of evidence
of civilizations which contributed much to world progress.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InkYI9Bvua8