West African Trading Kingdoms

Askia the Great

-1 of Songhai's greatest rulers -chose his name -devout Muslim -supported education and higher learning -created army to protect his effective government

Salt

-Sahara Salt was the most valuable -people and animals lose salt through sweat -without salt they risk fatigue, cramps, even death -also used to preserve food, and flavor -good salt is used for spices and recipes -poor salt is fed to animals

Mecca

-city in present day Saudi Arabia -center of Islamic world -birth place of Muhammad and Islamic region

Sahara

-he world's largest desert -salt is found there -valuable trade source on the continent of Africa

Islam

-one of world's largest religions -polytheistic 5 Pillars: 1.Faith 2.Prayer 3.Charity 4.Fasting 5. Pilgrimage -pray 5 times a day -help poor -Ramadan- fast during day -make Hajj

Mali

Empire created by indigenous Muslims in western Sudan of West Africa from the thirteenth to fifteenth century. It was famous for its role in the trans-Saharan gold trade. Empire that arose around 1240 in the former empire of Ghana

Ghana

First known kingdom in sub-Saharan West Africa between the sixth and thirteenth centuries C.E. Also the modern West African country once known as the Gold Coast. Gained power by controlling the gold and salt trade

spread of Islam

From 633 to 637, Muslims took Syria, Palestine and Mesopotamia. In the next decade, Egypt fell as did the rest of North Africa. In 651, the Muslims conquered the Sassanids and Persia. By 718, Muslims controlled India and the Iberian peninsula (that's Spain and Portugal for the geographically challenged). Special considerations were given by Muslims to the Jews and Christians in their territory as they were followers of the same God, albeit somewhat confused.

3 Kingdoms of West Africa

Ghana, Mali, Songhai

Almoravids

Muslim group that came to power in Ghana; they declared war and began Ghana's fall.

Trans Sahara Trade Route

This was the route that the first caravan of camels headed west into the Sahara Desert to begin trade from Eastern Africa to Western Africa

griots

West African storytellers who pass down the history and cultural values of their people

Mosque

a Muslim place of worship

Caravan

a group of traders traveling together to particular location

Merchant

businessman who trades goods that he did not produce himself in order to earn profit

Timbuktu

city in Mali on the Niger River that was a center of trade, culture, and Islamic scholarship

kinship

connection among people based on blood, marriage, or adoption

savannah

grasslands containing scattered trees that covers West Africa

Songhai

group of people who rebelled against the Mali empire, and eventually formed an empire of their own

farming

in West African villages from A.D. 300 to 1500, the way of life of most people centered on this profession

clan

large groups formed from several kinship groups with a common ancestor

Niger River

large river that runs in West Africa, key route for transportation, trade, and communication

Empire

many territories and peoples controlled by one government

Prophet

messenger of God

Askia Muhammad

most famous ruler of the Songhai empire

Hajj

pilgrimage to Mecca, making this journey once in your life was a spiritual journey of all Muslims

Mansa Musa

ruled Mali from 1312 to 1332; spread interest in Mali as he made pilgrimage to Mecca

oral history

spoken records, including stories, that have been passed from one generation to the next

Sahara Desert

the largest desert in the world, covering most of northern Africa

Qur'an

the sacred writings of Islam revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad during his life at Mecca and Medina

trade

this activity brought diverse goods into West African, causing kingdoms to grow powerful and wealthy

gold

this precious metal was often trade by West Africans for salt from North Africa

labor specialization

to focus on a specific type of work, such as herding or metalworking

Berbers

traders who brought salt across the Sahara to trade with Ghana (part of North African Muslim group)

Arabic

written language introduced to West Africa by Berbers traders(Muslim group)