Africa traded gold for salt with Arabia due to geographic and health factors. Africans needed salt to survive hot climates where they lost salt through sweat, while gold was common but useless in Africa. This made Africans willing to trade gold for salt. The location of Ghana along trade routes between salt and gold sources contributed to its growth as a powerful empire, though its influence decreased as residents converted to Islam after the city was divided between African and Muslim sections. Mali rose as an empire as it embraced Islam, with the ruler Mansa Musa gaining fame during a hajj pilgrimage that spread knowledge of Mali.

1. Economics in Africa

2. Africa has: Gold

3. Africa wants: alt

4. Arabia has: alt

5. Arabia wants: Gold

6. Timeout! How much salt would you trade for a pound of gold?

7. Salt, why salt? You need salt to live. We lose salt when we sweat. It’s hot in Africa. Therefore, they sweat and lose salt. Without it, they die.

8. Well, now how much would you pay? But wait, don’t’ answer yet, there’s more!

9. Gold, Who needs that? In Africa, gold was pretty common. It is too soft to make weapons or tools out of. It is completely useless. So, why would they care?

10. The Salt Trade Africans were willing to trade 1 pound of gold for 1 pound of salt. Arabians were willing to trade 1 pound of salt for 1 pound of gold. Both sides were happy!

11. The Trade Routes

12. Salt Big Desert Gold

13. But gold and salt were not the only things they shared.

14. Government

15. Ghana and Mali

16. Timeout! Look at the map on the next page. One of the first major empires in Africa was Ghana in the shaded area. Why do you think it grew there and not somewhere else in Africa?

18. Ghana Ghana was a powerful trading empire in Africa. It’s location at the edge of the Sahara meant it controlled the best trade routes. The Niger River Valley was also relatively good for farming.

19. Koumbi Capital of Ghana Many Muslims came to live here to make money from gold. The emperor eventually has the city split in half to keep his people away from the Muslims.

20. African Side Muslim Side Main Street (dividing line)

21. The Split Splitting the city didn’t work. Based on the last picture, why do you think many Africans wanted to convert to Islam after the split of the city? The king of Ghana loses power as his people convert to Islam.

22. Mali

24. Mali The empire of Mali rose as Ghana was falling. They largely accepted Islam as their religion instead of trying to hold to their old ways. They did adapt it to fit their own traditions.

25. Arab Influences in Africa Arab merchants spread the Arab language into Africa. Along with the language the merchants spread Islam. Mansa Musa, an African ruler, went on a hajj in 1324.

26. Mansa Musa A strong follower of Islam Expanded the borders of Mali Led a pilgrimage of 60,000 people to Mecca. This made Mali famous throughout the world.

27. Mansa Musa

28. Things to Remember

29. Main Ideas 1. The geography of the area around the Niger river greatly influenced the growth of Ghana and Mali. 2. Trade with the Islamic Empire led to great changes in Africa. 3. African history and culture was passed down largely through oral traditions.