West African Empires The Empire of Ghana 750

West African Empires

The Empire of Ghana 750 -1076 Political: • Led by powerful King who ruled over a splendid court • Capital city was Kumbi Saleh • Had a large army of foot soldiers and cavalry – helped to expand kingdom

The Empire of Ghana Economic System Commercially based empire. Gold -Salt Trade ► Controlled and secured trade routes. ► § ► Also traded in ivory, slaves, horses, cloth, salt. Conversion by emperors to Islam improved diplomatic and economic relations between West Africa and the Islamic World.

The Empire of Ghana Achievements ► Influenced by Muslims: § § § ► Military technology Arabic writing Architecture Women had a high status and active role in market place

The Mali Empire 1100 -1400

Mali Empire Political: Ruled by powerful kings called Mansas. ► Expanded territory and appointed governors to rule areas ► Laws based on Muslim system of justice (The Quran) ► Mansa Musa: Most powerful leader, converted to Islam and made pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) ►

Mali Empire ► ► ► Economic: Controlled Gold Salt Trade: Its wide variety of environments produced a wide variety of goods. The rule of the Mansa (king) created peace and security for merchants to travel and trade freely. As a result, merchants began to establish family firms, with different individuals settling in far -flung parts of the Mali empire to carry on trade. Common items of exchange were kola nuts, butter, textiles and metal goods.

Mali Empire Achievements: Developed the city of Timbuktu which became a great trading city and center of Muslim learning. ► Conversion to Islam and Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca brought world wide attention to West Africa ► Made the need of a large population and a large army a permanent necessity for states in West Africa. ►

Songhai Empire Political: ► ► ► Sunni Ali- 1464 gained power and restored order Powerful army used war and force to control region Askia Muhammad- great leader who made pilgrimage to Mecca Organized provinces and created a bureaucracy Developed a code of laws based on Islam

Songhai Empire ► ► ► Economic: Controlled Gold Salt trade Industrious farmers and skilled craftsmen in iron and copper Slave trade developed Merchants became very wealthy and influential Timbuktu remained a major economic and cultural city Djenne Mosque

Songhai Empire Achievements: Encouraged Muslim Scholars to settle in Timbuktu ► Timbuktu became a cultural and learning center ► University of Sankore - study of medicine, grammar, literature ► Expanded empire with the use of force ►