Name: ________________Africa in the Middle Ages
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How did the geography of Africa determine development and trade?
What are the similarities and differences in Ghana, Mali, and Songhai?
What was the Importance of Islam and Christianity in medieval Africa?
Vocabulary
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Ghana​- oldest of the west African trading nations located near the Sahara Desert and the Niger River
Mali​-Second of the West African trading nations. It took control of Ghana when god was discovered
Songhai​- The last and largest of the west African trading nations located on the Niger River
Timbuktu​- Major trading city located where most African and Arabian goods were traded
Sundiata​- King of Mali called the “Lion Prince” that defeated Ghana
Mansa Musa​- Last strong king of Mali
Sunni Ali​- conquered the Berbers becoming the king and built the largest empire of Songhai.
Islam​- religion founded in Arabia that spread throughout Africa
Sultan​- name of an Islamic leader like a king
Ibn Battuta​- Arabic lawyer that traveled throughout the Muslim African world
Swahili​- language that is a blend of African and Muslim culture and tradition
Niger River​- Major river located in West Africa where people traded
Oral history​- stories passed down from generation to generation but not written down
Queen Nzinga​- Great African queen that battled the Portuguese slave traders
Salt and Gold​- the most traded items in west Africa
Notes
Africa is the ​second largest continent​ in the world. There are ​savannahs and plateaus​ and large areas of ​desert​.
The first of the great trading nations that developed in West Africa was ​Ghana​. Ghana was located near the Niger River and the Sahara
Desert. People wanting to ​trade​ had to pass through Ghana.​ Ghana ​charged taxes to pass through their land. This made Ghana very
rich. Ghana had the ability to make ​iron weapons​ and had a ​huge army​.
Ghana converted ​to Islam through trade​.
Eventually Ghana would ​fall​ because of ​constant fighting, new gold discoveries, and over farming​ weakened Ghana. Mali would defeat
Ghana
Mali​ rose to power a and conquered even more land than Ghana. Their land stretched past to ​Timbuktu​ and all of the Niger River.
One of the Great rulers of Mali was ​Mansa Musa​. He made Mali ​strong and helped to spread Islam by building mosques and libraries​. He
made a long journey ​or pilgrimage to Mecca​ showing his great wealth along the way. He brought back teachers and architects to Mali to
build the city and spread Islam.
Mali would decline and be conquered by Songhai.
Songhai​ would become ​the largest trading power​ in West Africa taking all of Ghana and Mali. The king, ​Askia Muhammad​ made Songhai
strong ​and continued to ​spread Islam​. He built up Timbuktu into a great trading center. He ​built 150 schools to teach the Koran​.
Africa was built on trade between the Arabs and the Africans. They ​traded salt and gold equally​. The traded this ​using caravans​ .
HOmework
Monday-Make flash cards Tues Wed Thur Choose three of the activities and study.
OPtion1:
http://www.pbs.org/wonders/Ki
ds/kids.htm
Explore Africa with Anansi
Screen shot the certificate at
the end with your name. Share
it with your teacher.
Play the map
game.​http://www.sheppardsoft
ware.com/Africa-georegion-cli
ck.html
Write down your score!
Option 2:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
cbbcnews/hi/find_out/
guides/2003/life_for_a
frican_kids/newsid_26
78000/2678211.stm
Read about life in
Africa for kids...write
a paragraph telling
how they are alike or
different
OPtion 3:
Create an Illustrated
dictionary with vocab
words.
Option
4:​http://www.africa.mr
donn.org/
Read one of the
African fables and
proverbs. Choose one
and create a comic
strip that retells the
story.
Option 5: Use your
study guide to:
Create acrostic poems
for each kingdom
Create a comic strip
that explains why salt
and gold were so
important in Africa