and Cities 22A Iron technologys Impact on W est Africa Before the Discovery of Iron Most people were huntergatherers Tools and weapons were made of bone and stone fixed to sticks The Nok ID: 805189
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Slide1
History Alive 7-3; 2.2
African Empires
and Cities
Slide22.2A: Iron technology’s Impact on
W
est Africa
Before the Discovery of Iron
Most people were hunter-gatherers
Tools and weapons were made of bone and stone fixed to sticks
The
Nok
Use Iron Technology after 500 B.C.E.
Rocks were crushed into small pieces to extract iron ore
Iron ore was melted in a furnace or over a fire
Hammers were used to beat warm iron into tools or weapons
Slide32.2A: Iron technology’s Impact on
W
est Africa
Iron Brings Revolutionary Changes
More efficient farming developed due to iron tools such as axes and hoes
Larger meat supply was produced due to iron-tip weapons
Permanent settlements grew along rivers as the number of farms increased
Job specialization led to the production of more trade goods
Slide42.2A: Iron technology’s Impact on
W
est Africa
Early Trade Centers Develop
Jenne-jeno
: inhabitants use Niger River as a natural highway for trade
Trade brought great wealth to those who controlled West African cities
Tremendous wealth allowed West African leaders to build powerful armies, which were used to invade neighboring territories
Slide52.2B: The Kingdom of Gold
Indigenous Religion
Believed in one god, created world and lesser gods ruled over daily life
Believed disaster could be avoided by pleasing gods with prayer and ritual
Trans-Saharan Trade
North Africans brought salt to trade for gold
Wangarans
brought gold to trade for salt
Ghana exploited geographic location and military power to tax all traders
Slide62.2B: The Kingdom of Gold
Islam
Tolerance for Muslims, but
Koumbi
divided between Muslims and Soninke
Most government officials and merchants were
S
oninke converts
Sources of Ghana’s Strength (800-1500 BCE)
Iron weapons allowed Ghana’s large army to conquer neighboring territory
Controlled of tans-Saharan gold-salt trade
Slide72.2B: The Kingdom of Gold
Sources of Ghana’s Unity
King’s powers were absolute; acted as a sole judge in all criminal matters
Large, powerful army and nobles enforced king’s decisions
Peasants contributed a portion of their harvest so that city dwellers could focus exclusively on their trade
Slide82.2C: The Kingdom of Mali:
Mandinke
vs. Sosso
The Fight for Control of Mali:
Mandinke
vs.
Sosso
The
Mandinke
, under the leadership of
Sundiatta
, controlled
mali
Samanguru
, the leader of the
Sossos
, captured
Koumbi
, a city in Mali, in 1203
Legend indicates that both leaders used magic in the Battle of
Kirina
Sundiata’s
victory expanded
Mandinke
territory and began the Empire of Mali
Slide92.2C: The Kingdom of Mali:
Mandinke
vs. Sosso
Mali at Its Height
Under Musa, Mali was twice the size of Ghana
Mali remained powerful for nearly 200 years
Mansa Musa’s Pilgrimage
Brought thousands of people and
camelloads
of gold with him
Very generous with his gold
Slide102.2C: The Kingdom of Mali:
Mandinke
vs. Sosso
Impact of Pilgrimage on Mali
Mapmakers began to include Mali on maps
Qur’anic
schools and Muslim architecture built throughout Mali
Government officials read and wrote in Arabic
Territory was divided into provinces ruled by
dugu
tigis
Slide112.2D: How the Songhai Empire Grew to Greatness
Songhai Gains Independence from Mali
Songhai lived under rule Malian Empire for hundreds of years
Sunni Ali
B
er
helped Songhai gain independence from Mali in 1400s
Slide122.2D: How the Songhai Empire Grew to Greatness
The Empire Under
Askia
Muhammad
Askia
, a devout Muslim, rose to power by gaining support from those who opposed intolerant policies of Sunni Ali’s son
Askia
declared Islam the official Songhai religion and appointed Muslim judges
Askia’s
conquests made the Songhai Empire larger than Mali or Ghana
Slide132.2D: How the Songhai Empire Grew to Greatness
Songhai Empire at
I
ts Height
Strong central government with ministers and market inspectors to carry out king’s order
Social system similar to a caste system:
Those with special privileges
Free people and soldiers
War captives and slaves; worked on farms
Songhai was center of learning
Timbuktu’s University of
Sankore
attracted scholars from across the world
Slide142.2E: The Conquest of Songhai by Morocco
Al-Mansur: Sultan of Morocco
Wanted to control source of both gold and salt
Commanded powerful army that was equipped with muskets
Seizure of the Salt Mines at
Taghaza
Al-Mansur’s musketeers seized the
Taghaza
mines
Al-Mansur was furious and prepared his army for an attack on
Gao
Slide152.2E: The Conquest of Songhai by Morocco
Moroccan Attack on
Gao
Judar
Pasha was ordered to capture
Gao
with 4,000 musketeers
Songhai’s 118,000 warriors fought bravely, but the muskets were too powerful
Songhai surrendered to Morocco and offered to pay tribute of gold and slaves
Slide162.2E: The Conquest of Songhai by Morocco
Effects of the Conquest on west Africa
Political unity kept by Ghana, Mali, and Songhai was destroyed
Salt-gold trade disrupted with lack of central control
Cultivated land fell to waste
Moroccan rulers remain in the area