ap world chapter 2.4 notes (trans-saharan)

how did the malian government profit?

- gold trade - taxed nearly all other trade entering west africa

describe the exchange of trade goods between west africa and europe/asia.

- gold was the most precious commodity trade - foreign traders came to west africa seeking for gold, slaves, and ivory. in exchange they brought salt, textiles, and horses - this brought wealth to west africa especially ghana and mali

who was mansa musa? describe mansa musa's hajj and its impact on muslim.

- mansa musa was the great-nephew of sundiata and he brought more fame to this region. - began a pilgrimage in mecca where his prosperity allowed him to take a caravan to arabia consisting of all the goods to distribute to his people - visited mecca to deepen his devotion to islam. most west africans hold strongly to their traditional beliefs but mans musa supported islam in mali.

from what region is the camel native? why were camels easy to adapt to the trans-saharan trade routes?

- native to the islamic hearthland, arabia - they adapted well to the arid climate and they are able to consume large quantity of water and not have water for long periods of time

why have so few societies inhabited the sahara desert?

- since its arid climate makes it hard to farm

who was sundiata? how did sundiata become king of mali and expand mali's influence and wealth?

- sundiata was the founding ruler of mali - he became the king of mali when he came back to the kingdom after he strengthened and defeated his enemies where he reclaimed the throne. - he used his connections with other faiths to establish trade relationships with north african and arab merchants.

what were timbuktu and gao?

- the great cities that accumulated the most wealth and developed into centers of islamic life in the region.

what caused saharan trade to increase during the 13th and 14th centuries?

- the use of caravans by merchants and traders

how did expanding trade led to expanding government in mali?

-growing trade gave rise to the need of administering / maintaining government. - rulers need to establish a currency and protect the trade routes and the areas where the currencies are produced or the trade resources.

what is an oasis? how are they formed? how would it benefit travelers along the trans-saharan trade routes?

are places where human settlement is possible because water from deep underground is brought up to the surface, making land fertile. it benefits the traveler as it allows them to rest.

compare the benefits of the three camel saddles (back of hump, on hump, somali saddle). which one was best for trading?

back of hump: made riding easier since they could hold on to the hair of the hump. on hump: putting them high up in the air, greater visibility in battle. somali saddle: can carry heavy loads up to 600 pounds ( best for traveling ).

how was islam introduced to sub-saharan africa?

by the tran-saharan trade that spread into sub-sahara africa

what items would camels carry along the tran-sharan trade routes?

goods for trade and provisions like water

compare four major trading empires (mali, al-andalus, byzantine empire and kievan rus)

mali: - west africa - capital was timbuktu - connected west and north africa through trade - islam spread in west africa al-andalus - spain - capital was cordoba - preserved classical greek learning - tolerant society byzantine empire - middle east - capital was constantinople - fostered the trade between asia, europe, and africa - carried on the roman legacy kievan rus - russia - capital was kiev - developed the first large civilization in europe - spread christianity eastward

what was the songhay empire?

the empire that took place of mali and was the new powerhouse of west africa

how was islam introduced to mali?

through north african traders in the 9th century

what contributed to the downfall of ghana?

wars with neighboring societies weakened ghana's society.