African Civilizations [c. A.D. 800-1600]
900B.C.-600 A.D. –
Axum kingdom in
eastern Africa.
800 A.D. – 1000 A.D.
Kingdom of Ghana
created in West Africa
th
13 Century –
Rise of the Mali
Empire, centered
around the city of
Timbuktu
What You Need to Learn
1450-1591 – Songhai Empire
grows into largest West African
state, centered on trade with
Europe and Asia
1324-1325 –
Mansa Musa,
ruler of Mali
Empire, makes a
pilgrimage to
Mecca
1591 – Fall of the Songhai
Empire to the invading army of
Al Mansur, the Sultan of
Morocco.
Ways You Will Be Assessed
Sample Regents Multiple Choice Question:
NYS Curriculum- Unit 3 Global Interactions (1200-1650)
D. Rise and Fall of African Civilizations: Ghana, Mali, Axum,
and Songhai empires.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Human and physical geography
Organizational structures
Contributions
Roles in global trade routes
Spread and impact of Islam – Mansa Musa
Timbuktu and African trade routes
African kingdoms such as Ghana, Songhai, and Axum flourished
mainly because they
1. controlled important trade routes
2. developed self-sufficient economies
3. became religious centers considered sacred by Africans
4. received support from European colonial governments
Sample Regents Multiple Choice Question:
Mansa Musa’s journey to Mecca in the 1300s is evidence that
1. the Crusades had a great influence on western Africa
2. most African leaders were educated in the Middle East
3. European culture was superior to the cultures of western Africa
4. Islam had a major influence on the Mali empire
Sample Regents (Thematic or DBQ) Essay Question
Click on essays below to see the task
Theme: Culture and Intellectual Life
 Identify two different cultures that experienced a Golden Age.
 Describe the specific achievements of each culture identified.

Curriculum Tool-High School of Language and Innovation 2013
Explain how these achievements continue to influence
the modern world
http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/global/essays/themati
c/goldenages/index.htm
African Civilizations [c. A.D. 800-1600]
How to Learn the Curriculum
If you find a resource helpful, color in the circle.
If you do not find a resource helpful, put an X through the circle.
If you find a resource somewhat helpful, color in part of the circle.
Primary Sources
⃝ Description of Ibn Battuta Travels to
Mali
Includes primary source translation
http://ibnbattuta.berkeley.edu/12westafrica.ht
ml
⃝ British Museum presentation on the
kingdom of Mali
Includes “Catalan Atlas” with image of Mansa
Musa, and a pictures of artifacts, tools, and art
from Timbuktu
http://www.britishmuseum.org/pdf/Kingdom
OfMali_Presentation.pdf
Secondary Sources
WEBSITES:
⃝ Ghana Empire Art
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ghan/hd_ghan.htm
⃝Trading Salt for Gold -Smithsonian
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/currency/essay2.html
⃝ Mali Empire Art
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mali/hd_mali.htm
⃝ Timbuktu
Information on Timbuktu from National Geographic Travel
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/world-heritage/timbuktu/
⃝ Metropolitan Museum of Art page on Songhai Empire http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/sghi/hd_sghi.htm
⃝ Axumite civilization and Christianity in Africa Arthttp://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/aksu_1/hd_aksu_1.htm
⃝ Axum Civilization
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/15
MAPS:
⃝ Maps of Timbuktu and Mali from 16th century – Present:
http://international.loc.gov/intldl/malihtml/maps.html
⃝ Islam in Africa – Modern Times:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/africa_islam_87.jpg
TIMELINE:
⃝ http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum211/timelines/htimeline2.htm
VIDEOS
⃝History of Timbuktu
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/119/video
Curriculum Tool-High School of Language and Innovation 2013
Practice
⃝ Regents Prep
Multiple Choice
Questions with answers
http://www.regentsprep.o
rg/Regents/core/questions
/question.cfm?Course=G
LOB&TopicCode=2d&Q
Num=1&Wrong=0
⃝ Curriculum based
questions and
vocabulary sheet
⃝ Document Based
Question on Mansa
Musa’s Pilgrimage
http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/007295754
9/student_view0/chapte
r19/internet_activities_1.
html