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Mansa Mttsa Seated on His Throne
sing Printan, Source s
Name
Elaborate Kingdoms of Africa
Backg round lnformation
Af ier Ku.sh and Nubia, there were lbur oLher Aliican civilizations that played a key part in Aliica'.s
history. The first was the kingdom o[ Aksum in eastern Africa. This kingdom w&s in the paLh oI
imponant trade routes. The other three were in western Africa and included the kingdoms of Ghana,
Mali, and Songhai. The krngdom of Ghana controlled the trade in western Africa until around the
end of the iirst millennium. Mansa Musa was the king of Mali. He built the city of Timbuktu into an
important cultural center and firnded librarie.s and universities. Songhai was under Mali's control until
[he death of Mansa Musa. Under King Sunni Ali Ber, Songhai expanded its borders.
Activity
Dircctions: Use the blank map below to create a map that tells the story of one of Atrica's kingdoms.
Your teacher will assign you one of the lbllowing kingdoms: Ghana, Aksum, or Songhai.
Ghallenge
Find out more about the kingdoms of Kush and Nubia. Which one had a female ruler?
@ 7'eacher Created Moterial.s
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#1 1136
(i2891) Exploring I'rirnan,
Sources: Africa
Using Prinnry Sources
Mansa Musa Sealed on His Throne
Rise and Fall ofAfrican Civihzatrotrs
(,o,t)
Historical Background lnformation
The earliest civilization to arise in Africa was in ancient Egypt. This civilization was
one of the earliest in the world, too. This included the kingdom of Kush. Ancient
Nubia (NEW-bee-uh) also thrived in what is present-day Sudan (sue-DAN) around
1000 s.c. After these early civilizations, there were four African civilizations that
played a key part in Africa's history. The first was the kingdom of Aksum (AWKsoom) in eastern Africa. The other three were in western Africa and included the
kingdoms of Ghana (GAW-nuh), Mali (MAH-lee), and Songhai (son-GAH-ee).
These three kingdoms were in what today is known as Mali, Mauritania (moh-ree-tahNEE), Senegal (seh-nih-GAwl), and Guinea (GIH-nee).
Around 500 s.c., the area known today as Eritrea (er-uh-TREE-uh) and Ethiopia (eethee-OH-pee-uh) began to develop into a lasting civilization. Semitic (suh-MlH-tik)
speaking people from the Arabian Peninsula settled there. They formed the kingdom
of Aksum. This kingdom was in the path of important trade routes. To the north
rvere the Nubian (NEW-bee-uhn) cities. To the east, across the Red Sea. rvas Yemen
(YEH-muhn). Further east was India. It was a perfect location for international trade.
Christianity spread throughout the kingdom in the fourth century. Aksum was a
strong civilization until Islam swept through Africa in the seventh century.
In western Africa, on the edge of the Sahara (suh-HAWR-uh) Desert, the kingdom of
Ghana formed. This happened in the fourth and fifth centuries A.D. This kingdom
was founded by people known as Berbers (BUHR-buhrz). The Berbers were nomadic
desert dwellers from North Africa. The rise of Islam in Africa came with increased
trade across the Sahara. Camel caravans crossed over the sea of sand. They carried
gold, salt, and slaves. The kingdom of Ghana controlled the trade in western Africa
until a.o. 1000. It was broken up by invasions of people from the north.
About the same time, powerful families had converted to Islam (is-LAWM). They
were gaining strength in Mali. They filled in the gap caused by the fall of Ghana. In
the year l.o. 1230, Mali had its first king. One of the most important kings of Mali
was Mansa Musa (MAHN-suh MOO-suh), who reigned from 1312-1337. Mansa
Musa built the city of Timbuktu (tim-buk-TOO) into an important cultr.rral center. He
funded libraries and universities. Scholars and artists made Timbuktu their home.
This was the golden age of Islamic culture in Africa. After the death of Mansa Musa,
the kingdom of Mali was weakened. Another family was ready to take over.
The Songhai kingdom had existed at the same time as the kingdom of Mali.
However, Songhai remained under Mali's control until the death of Mansa Musa. It
would be another 100 years until Songhai completely united the old empire under
king Sunni Ali Ber (SUN-nee aw-LEE BUHR). Songhai kings had assistants called
sriots (GREE-ohz). These griots told stories and kept their histor5, alive. These
stories are still carried on today. The kingdom of Songhai was large and difficult
to control. At the end of the 1500s, the kingdom began to split apart. A Moroccan
(muh-RAH-can) leader attacked Songhai. He wanted complete control of their gold
mines. By 1612, lhe kingdom of Songhai was no more.
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136 (i2894)-Exploring Printary- Sources:
Africa
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