ghana

when was mali

1240 - 1600

when was songhai

1464 - 1591

when was morroco

1591

when was ghana

500 - 1200s

How did the introduction of camels improve Ghana's economy during 500 CE to the 1200s in West Africa?

Camels helped the economy because they were very good at traveling in the desert. They had long eyelashes which could help block their eyes from sand, they can store water in their humps and can drink up to 25 gallons at a time which makes them able to travel for many days without water. This helped the people trade and travel through the desert easily. "A camel can drink up to 25 gallons of water at a time. As a result, it can travel several days in the desert without stopping. Also, camels have double rows of eyelashes and hairy ear openings that help keep out blowing sand."-Ghana: A West African Trading Empire(148)

who was mali

Mansa Musa

Why did the Songhai fall in 1591 to invaders from Morocco?

Morocco had guns and cannons which were much more powerful compared to the Songhai soldiers using spears and arrows. "The Moroccans won because they had guns and cannons." Trading States and Kingdoms (82)

Why was salt important to West Africans in West Africa around 300 BCE? Provide two reasons.

Salt was important to West Africans around 300 BCE for two main reasons. West Africans needed it for their diet because it is very hot and they need to replace the salt they lose when they sweat somehow. Secondly, West Africans needed the salt to preserve their food and keep it from spoiling, and they also liked the taste. "People who live in areas with hot climates, like West Africa, perspire a lot and must replace the salt they lose"- Ghana: A West African Trading Empire(150) They also used salt to keep their food fresh and they would give it to their cattle. "West Africans also needed salt to keep their food from spoiling and to give to their cattle."-Ghana: A West African Trading Empire(150)

How did Ghana's army in west africa differ from the Song dynasty in China during the years of each kingdom's reign? Consider any other connections with the Song Dynasty and other aspects of this unit.

Song Dynasty-Song Culture document The Song dynasty didn't really have a strong military, and this is because they focused on developing a civil state whose success could be sustained. Ghana, on the other hand, had a strong military in comparison to the Song Dynasty. One thing that Ghana and the Song Dynasty had in common was that they both had successful economy's. Ghana was wealthy because of their control over the Salt and gold trade system, and the Song Dynasty had good expectations of living that most people followed in order to make themselves better as a person.

who was ghana

Soninke

who was songhai

Sunni Ali, Askia Muhammed

Why did the West Africans use salt instead of gold as currency from 500 CE to the 1200's in Ghana?

The West Africans used salt instead of gold as currency because they had plentiful amounts of gold and not a lot of salt, so because gold wasn't valued highly, they used salt, a highly valued resource, as their currency. They also had little use for gold except as a trade item. They also felt that salt was an important part of their diet, because when animals and people perspire they lose sweat and having salt in their meals allowed them to regain that salt back. "Their culture had little use for gold, except as an item for trade. But they craved salt, and for good reason. Salt is an important part of a person's diet. When people and animals perspire (sweat), they lose salt in their perspiration" A West African Trading Empire: (150).

who was morocco

The ruler of morocco

Why could Morocco have been motivated to overthrow/take over the Songhai around 1591?

Tradings states text to find answer. It can be inferred that Morocco may have wanted to get wealth that Mali had, but on their way to try to take over Mali, Morocco's army came across the Songhai army and they began to battle. Morocco could have felt that the Songhai were in their way of getting the wealth that they were going to try and take from Mali. They could have also viewed the Songhai as a threat, so they took them out.