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WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES

WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES. What caused the rise and fall of the West African Kingdoms? Most of the information that we have about the early African civilization is based on oral traditions. Why should this be so? What advantages are there to oral history as compared to written accounts.

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WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES

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  1. WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES

  2. What caused the rise and fall of the West African Kingdoms? Most of the information that we have about the early African civilization is based on oral traditions. Why should this be so? What advantages are there to oral history as compared to written accounts. What other historical sources might be found to confirm or dispute oral accounts?

  3. GRIOT:“The keeper of culture.” Professional historians who recount cultural stories and history through song. They are traveling bards and poets. In ancient times a griot would “serve a ruler in much the same way that modern rulers are served by written constitutions, legal staff, and archival staffs. Griots recall what earlier leaders have done to advise current leaders on how to handle problems.” A “Jali”- griot from Mali Griot singer Suso is playing the kora (note his name on the instrument). He is from, The Gambia

  4. More about the Griot! • A griot is a West African storyteller-musician. A griot doesn’t just tell stories. They typically accompany themselves on a stringed instrument. They still play an important role today—to tell people about the past, to keep their history alive, and to safeguard their traditional culture. They sing the history of a tribe or family at weddings, naming ceremonies, and other social and religious occasions. (Click to hear an example of Griot singing)

  5. A. Lineage B. Stateless society C. Patrilineal D. Matrilineal E. Maghreb F. Almoravids G. Almohads Part of N. Africa that is Libya today. Mother’s side of the family Group of Berber Muslims Common ancestors Strict religious brotherhood Father’s side of the family No system of central power Matching Vocabulary

  6. Mali Niger Mauritania Senegal The Gambia Guinea Bissau Guinea Burkina Faso

  7. Natural Resources • Salt • Gold • Cloth • Weapons • Timber • Copper & Iron • Slaves

  8. Why was Salt Important? The man is holding a slab of salt mined recently near Timbuktu • Mali often traded its gold for salt • Salt was sometimes more valuable than gold! • People’s bodies need salt to live • In the desert heat, salt is lost through perspiration • Salt was used to preserve food • Salt was brought in large slabs (coins)

  9. Empire of Ghana • 3rd Century Berber nomads begin using camels. This made trade much easier throughout the Sahara region • Trade increased between West Africa and North Africa • Soninke people called their land Ghana • The Kings became rich by controlling the gold mines and taxing their people and trade • But Iron not gold enabled Ghana’s powerful army to keep the empire safe for centuries. • Blacksmiths knew how to make tools and weapons. • Weapons stronger and sharper than neighbours.

  10. Spread of Islam • Muslim merchants from North Africa traded with Ghana which further increased its wealth and power • The Muslim Almoravids began to move south in early 11th century and invaded Ghana. • Ghana was conquered and the people of the capital city, Kumbi, were forced to convert to Islam. • The Almoravids did not control the area for long but this did weaken the kingdom, leading to its break up into smaller states.

  11. Ghana on the Map

  12. Al-Bakri: Arab writer who travelled in the kingdom of Ghana in 1065 The king adorns himself…wearing necklaces and bracelets…The court of appeal Is held in a domed pavilion around which stand ten horses with gold embroidered trappings. Behind the king stand ten pages holding shields and swords decorated with god, and on his right are the sons of the subordinate kings of his country, all wearing splendid garments and with their hair mixed with gold. What does this quote tell us about life in Ghana?

  13. Empire of Mali • 1235 Mali emerges as a major kingdom • Located south of Ghana • This kingdom became important when resources became scarce and trade routes shifted • This made them wealthy and helped Mali to obtain more power.

  14. Society of the Malinke Farmers vs. Pastoralists ● Farmers work the land; largest group; provide nobility ● Pastoralists semi-nomadic herders; sometimes required farmers to provide food and other goods

  15. Sundiata Sundiata was the first king of Mali. He is most famous for uniting and enlarging Mali. He was called a lion as a child because he crawled rather than walked because his legs were weak. He was called the lion king as an adult because he was a strong king. Sundiata was a follower of Islam.

  16. Sundiata’s Influence • Expansion of Empire-Mali extended over 1,000 miles from east to west • Trade was reestablished and Mali controlled gold and salt from 1200-1500 • Sundiata introduced the cultivation and weaving of cotton in the area

  17. After Sundiata’s death… • Mali endured a period of political instability • The rulers of Mali came to be called “Mansa”; meaning “emperor” or “master” • In 1307 the grandson of Sundiata’s half brother rose to power…

  18. Mansa Musa Mansa Musa was another great king of Mali. He was the grandson of Sundiata. He was a follower of Islam. Mansa Musa made a hajj to Mecca. He is best know for putting Mali on the map; people knew about the country of Mali after he made the hajj to Mecca. Mansa Musa started universities and built mosques in Timbuktu making the former trading center a center for worship and learning.

  19. The Hajj • Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim • Muslims must make a journey to Mecca called a ‘hajj’ • Mansa Musa crossed Africa to reach Mecca • He took a huge caravan with him in 1324 • After that, everyone knew about the wealth of Mali

  20. The Songhay 1350-1600c CE Sonni Ali 1464 CE: Made the Songhay the most powerful state in the region at the time. Seized Timbuktu, Gao and other areas of Kingdom of Mali. Askia Mohammed 1493 CE: Expanded the Kingdom even further. Developed strong centralised government, system of laws and increased military. Brought peace and stability to Kingdom By 1600 CE Moroccans invaded and conquered Kingdom.

  21. Putting it all TogetherThe Empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai Analyse your note chart for these three empires… • List 3 similarities • List 3 differences • Make a prediction: After the destruction of Songhai what do you think became of the trade routes and wealth of Western Africa? • Make a connection: Show how one of these empires would fit the analogy of ‘Empire Stew’. • Life Cycle of a City State: • Use the statements to create a circular diagram that explains the life cycle of a city state.

  22. Timbuktu • A very important city in Mali • Center of learning for Muslims • Universities and schools • Largest trading center in Mali • On the Niger River • Trade • Food • Washing Timbuktu 19th century traders in Timbuktu

  23. What’s in a Name? • To Timbuktu and back • Way out inTimbuktu • That’s about as far as Timbuktu • I’ll knock you clear to Timbuktu • Goin’ to Timbuktu

  24. Tenbuch? Timbuktu? Tombuto? Timbouctou? • From Trading Post to Commercial Empire Around 1100 C.E., a Tuareg woman called Buktu settled Timbuktu as a seasonal camp. Grazing her herds and flocks during the dry season not far from the Niger River, she discovered an oasis and decided to set up a tented camp and dig a well there. Very soon, the little seasonal camp, called Timbuktu (literally Buktu's well) became an important stop for other nomads as well as the caravans traveling along the trans-Saharan route. “Tim” meant “place of” or “tom” meant “belonging to” www.historychannel.com

  25. Evaluating Sources Ancient Manuscripts from the Desert Libraries of Timbuktu. Primary sources evaluation. Examine and evaluate the sources in the online exhibition. www.loc.gov/exhibits/mali/mali-overview.html

  26. A Village in Mali

  27. A Village in Mali Simulation • Roles are assigned • Everyone must make a name tag The following people get together!: • Village Chief and Elders • Young men • Individuals and women (find your spouse) • Treasurers • Griot and Drummer

  28. That’s a Fact! • The thatched roof of the debating chamber in some Malian villages is set deliberately low to prevent elders standing up and coming to blows when they disagree!

  29. Where is our Village? • Somewhere between Sosso and Niani • Sumanguru is the tyrant of the region. • Sundiata is still in exile in the kingom of Mema.

  30. Village Meeting • Drummer call the meeting • Everyone sits in a circle: • Chief sit next to elders • Women sit with husbands • Griot next to drummer • Young men outside the circle

  31. Meeting Agenda • Chief calls the meeting to order • Treasures go around collecting cola nuts and fees • Small problems addressed first • Individuals ask the chief’s advice (in order of age eldest to youngest) • Larger problem is communicated to villagers • Opinions are heard • Chief and Elders make final decision

  32. Griot and Drummer • Griot and drummer repeat the information of the village meeting

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