Aksum was an ancient kingdom located in present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea that controlled important trade routes in East Africa from the Mediterranean to India from around 300 AD. It became a center of early Christianity in Africa but declined in the 600s when Arab traders took over the lucrative Red Sea trade routes. As Aksum declined, powerful kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai arose in West Africa, controlling trade in gold and salt across the region. Mali's King Mansa Musa gained fame after his 1324 pilgrimage to Mecca, where he displayed Mali's wealth and helped spread Islam. Timbuktu emerged as a major trading and scholarly center under Songhai rule.

1. Aksum
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Location: East Africa
Present day: Ethiopia & Eritrea
Created when traders began
settling along the western coast of
the Red Sea.
Controlled trade on the Red Sea
From Mediterranean to the India.
(important trade routes!)
Ideas as well as goods traded
300 AD became a center for
Early Christianity in Africa.
Declined in the 600s – Arabs took
control of the trade routes.
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Location, Location,
Location!

2. Aksum trade routes

3. Western African
Kingdoms
As Aksum declined, great kingdoms arose on
the other side of the continent, in West Africa.
The power of these kingdoms was based on
the trade of salt and gold.
West Africa= No Salt, but lots of gold
North Africa= Salt, but no gold.

4. Ghana
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Between Senegal & Niger
River
Controlled much of the
trade routes across West
Africa.
Taxed salt, gold, and other
goods.
Nickname--“land of gold”
Lost the important trade
routes to the kingdom of
Mali.

5. Mali “where the kings live”
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Took control of trade
routes from Ghana.
Upper Niger Valley
West Africa.
Controlled gold mines
of the south and salt
supplies to north.
Mansa Musa
“emperor” brought
peace and order.

6. Mansa Musa
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Mali's most famous king.
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Brought peace and order to the kingdom.
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Based his laws on the “Quran”
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Musa and his traders helped spread Islam
across Africa.
In 1324, Musa made a pilgrimage to
Mecca. He brought with him:
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80 camels
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60,000 people
Each camel had 300lbs of gold!
Importance of pilgrimage
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New trading routes/relationships
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Displayed Mali's wealth
(Europe's rules became $greedy$

7. Mana Musa's Pilgrimage

8. Songhai
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After Musa's death
Songhai came to power
in W. Africa.
Controlled important
trade routes.
Timbuktu- important
caravan stop along the
Niger.
Invaders from N. Africa
defeated Songhai in
1591.

9. Tombouctou
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The wealthiest
trading city in
Western Africa.
“Salt comes from the
north, gold from the
south, and silvers from
the city of white men.
Also, a great Muslim
But the word of God and
learning center.
treasures of wisdom are
only to be found in
Tombouctou.”

10. Timbuktu (Tombouctou)