West Africa
West Africa stretches from the Atlantic Coast eastward in a strip between the Sahara and the Rain Forest
Arabs called this region Sahel – meaning ‘shore’
•
Early villages in West Africa began in places where:
-
People could find water
-
Grow crops
Important for their survival and later for trade
How was History passed down in West African cultures
•
Oral Tradition
-
Songs
-
Stories (why were griots important in West African society? )
-
Folklore
-
Proverbs
Ghana Empire
-founded by Soninke people
-Capital- Kumbi Sale
- Ghana Empire: wealth gotten from control of gold mines and salt (as valuable as gold) trade
Actual name: Wagadugu
Name “Ghana”-mistake made by Arab & European writers
Ghana conquering and establishing empireKANTE clan- blacksmiths
•
New farming tools = greater harvest (surplus) = trade
•
Iron weapons = superior tools = conquering of neighbours
•
Camels & horses = move faster & longer = control trade routes
Played an important role in
conquering and controlling
important trade routes along the
TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE ROUTES
Mali Empire
•
“where the emperor resides” in Mande (language)
Almoravids invasion
•
Empire founded by Suniata Keita –“Lion King” (Mandinka people)
Mansa Musa
•
Most famous ruler was Mansa Musa – “Mansa” Means King
-
extended the territory of Mali
-
famous Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca (60,000 people)
- Major centres of religious & scientific learning established in Timbuktu
(capital) Djenne, and Gao
-
increase of Islam in West Africa
Timbuktu
- Capital of Mali
- intellectuals from all over (Europe, North Africa, Middle East) came to Timbuktu (centre of learning and
research)
- major trading city
- oldest university established
Define the following words: clan; griot; empire; mecca; nomads; Muslim; sahara; kante; hajj – see pg 38 &
39 from test book