The document discusses three West African kingdoms - Ghana, Mali, and Songhai - that showed the richness of Africa between the 3rd and 15th centuries. [1] Ghana developed as a kingdom along the Niger and Gambia rivers in West Africa between 300-1100 AD, growing wealthy through trade and tax collection. [2] Mali emerged as a major kingdom south of Ghana in the 1200s, becoming powerful through the gold and salt trades when resources declined elsewhere. [3] The greatest king of Mali, Mansa Musa in the early 1300s, further developed these trades and built mosques, demonstrating the kingdom's wealth and influence.

1. http://www.hp.uab.edu/image_archive/um/painting06.jpg

2. Aim: How did the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai show the richness of Africa?
Do Now: Matching
Natural Resources
• Salt
• Gold
• Cloth
• Weapons
• Timber

5. Ghana developed in West Africa
between the Niger (NI-jhur) and
the Gambia Rivers. It was an
important kingdom there from
about AD300 to about 1100. The
rivers helped Ghana to grow rich
because they were used to
transport goods and develop
trade. Ghana also collected taxes
from traders who passed through
the kingdom. The people called
their nation Wagadu; we know it
as Ghana --that was the word for
war chief.
http://www.nevadasurveyor.com/africa/web/pages/niger_river.htm

6. The kingdom of Ghana probably began
when several clans of the Soninke
people of west Africa came together
under the leadership of a great king
named Dinga Cisse.
Ghana had few natural resources
except salt and gold. They were also
very good at making things from iron.
Ghanaian warriors used iron tipped
spears to subdue their neighbors, who
fought with weapons made of stone,
bone, and wood.
http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/center/mm/eng/mm_rs_01.htm

7. Aim: How did the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai show the richness of Africa?
Do Now: Matching
Empire of Ghana
• 3rd Century Berber nomads begin using
camels. This made trade much easier in
the Sahara
• Trade increased
• Soninke people called their land Ghana
• 700’s: Ghana was a kingdom and the
rulers were getting rich by taxing trade

8. Aim: How did the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai show the richness of Africa?
Do Now: Matching
Ghana on the Map

9. Aim: How did the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai show the richness of Africa?
Do Now: Matching
Primary Source
• The king adorns himself…wearing necklaces
and bracelets…The court of appeal Is held in a
domed pavilion around which stand ten horses
with gold embroidered trappings. Behind the
king stand ten pages holding shields and swords
decorated with god, and on his right are the sons
of the subordinate kings of his country, all
wearing splendid garments and with their hair
mixed with gold. – Al-Bakri
• What does this quote tell us about life in Ghana?

10. http://www.btsadventures.com/img/mosque.jpg

11. Aim: How did the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai show the richness of Africa?
Do Now: Matching
Empire of Mali
• 1235 Mali emerges as a major kingdom
• Located south of Ghana
• This kingdom became important when
resources became scarce and trade
routes shifted
• This made them wealthy and helped Mali
to obtain more power.

12. Perhaps the greatest
king of Mali was Mansa
Musa (1312-1337). He
developed the gold and
salt trade of Mali and his
kingdom became very
powerful and rich.
Mansu Musa: Lord of the Negroes of Guinea. (Photo courtesy of History of Africa)

13. Mansa Musa was a Muslim,
meaning he followed the religion
of Islam. He built many beautiful
mosques or Islamic temples in
western Africa.
Use your
worksheet
to answer
questions
about the
mosque.
http://travel.u.nu/pic/ml/djenne.jpg