Africa's Geography
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- Harsh desert conditions made trade irregular
- Could not travel far in Sahara without water
- People started using camels because it could go twice as long than normal animals without water
- Camels could go more than 10 days without water
- Africa stretches 4,600 miles for the west to east coast, and a 5,000 mile stretch from the north to south
- The deserts were not suitable for human life because it was very hot, no water, and no resources of food
Empire of Ghana
- Ghana was Kingdom in which the rulers became rich by taxing the goods that traders carried through their territory
- Became a Empire in year 800
- King controlled trade and commanded a large army
- Demanded taxes and gifts from the chiefs of surrounding lands
- If chiefs made payments, the king left them alone in peace to rule their own people
- Sonike people called ruler, ghana, which means war chief
- King stored gold nuggets and slabs of salt, that was collected from taxes, in his royal palace
- King limited the supply of gold and kept its price from dropping
- Ruler acted as religious, chief judge, and military commander
- Headed large bureaucracy.
- Could call up huge army
Empire of Mali
- Kingdom of Mali emerged in 1235
- Founders of the kingdom were Mande-speaking people who lived south of Ghana
- Mali's wealth was built on gold
- One great leader was Sundiata, who came to power by crushing a cruel, unpopular leader
- Sudiata conquered everything and a period of peace and prosperity followed
- Put administrators in charge of Mali's finances, defense, and foreign affairs
- New capital at Niani
- Promoted agriculture and reestablished the gold-salt trade
- Niani was a important place for commerce and trade
- New rulers became muslims
- Built mosques, attended prayers, and supported the preaching of Muslim holy men
- Famous ruler was Mansa Musa who ruled from 1312 to 1332
- Mana Musa was a skilled military leader who excersiced royal control over trade
- Mana Musa divided empire into provinces and apoointed governors
Trade Influence's
- Trade routes crossed savanna through a region famed by Soninke people
- Rulers taxed the goods that traders carried through territory
- Two most important trade items: gold and salt.
- Gold came from a forest region south of savanna.
- Dug gold from shafts as deep as 100 feet.
- Gold was high value.
- Traders carried cloth, weapons, and manufactured goods.
- Royal officials made sure traders did business according to law
Islamic influences
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- Islam spread through North Africa by conquest
- Islam spread through trade
- Muslim merchants and teachers settled near Sahara
- Muslim advisers started helping king run kingdom
- Not many people converted to islam but it was accepted
- If they did convert, many of them kept their formal beliefs
- Encouraged the spread of literacy
Fall of the Empires
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- Muslim Almoravids completed conquest of Ghana in 1076
- Gold and salt trade was badly disrupted by war
- Ghana never regain power
- People began to act independently
- Wealthier people were able to seize power
- Mansa Musa successors lacked in governing well