1.0 The Sahelian Empires of the Western Sudan Flashcards
Define Chieftaincies.
The position of a leader of a group of people, often related to families who live together.
Define Kinship.
A web of social relationships that form an important part of the people in all societies - it is a blood relationship.
Define Amazigh.
The indigenous people of North Africa.
Define Caravan.
Groups of sometimes thousands of camels transporting goods across the Sahara, led by Amazighs.
Define Farma.
A regional governor.
Define Hajj.
A Hajj is a pilgrimage.
Define Mansa.
Emperor
Define Sahelian.
Biogeographical region in Africa - transition zone between humid Sudanian savannas to its south and drier Sahara to the north.
Define Wangara.
Diaspora traders up the trans-Saharan trade with cities across the Sahel.
What are the two main sources of information for our knowledge of the Kingdom of Ghana?
Writings of a Spanish Muslim named Al-Bakri and archaeological finds.
Where have archaeologists worked at for info on the Kingdom of Ghana.
Kumbi Saleh
Believed to be one of the king’s cities.
What dates are given to the Kingdom of Ghana?
9th to the 13th century AD
What was the main population group of Kumbi?
The Soninke
What was the hereditary system for the kings of Ghana?
They descended matrilineally.
Through the previous king’s sister.
What power did the Ghanaian king have in the judicial system?
He was the supreme judge.
Why is Kumbi an important city?
It was the capital city of the Ghanaian Kingdom.
Who was on top of who in Ghana’s hierarchal system?
Slaves; farmers and craftsmen; merchants; king, court and nobility on top.
What did Ghana sell and what did the buy when trading?
They imported salt, cloth, and metals like copper.
They exported gold and kola nuts.
This was for north-south trading.
What was the Kingdom of Ghana called?
Linked to trading.
‘land of gold’ because it was abundant in gold.
Why was iron important in Ghana?
They could make tools and weapons.
In turn helped expand the empire.
Did the Kingdom of Ghana convert to Islam?
Not officially. Though many of the highest ranking officials were Muslim because they were literate.
When did Ghana reach the Atlantic and the south coast?
The late 10th century.
When did the Kingdom of Ghana conquer Awdaghast?
992
What did Ghana conquer in 992?
Awdaghast.
Where is Awdaghast? Who lived there?
Southwest Sahara. A former Amazigh town.
When was Awdaghast conquered back by the Almoravid?
c1054
Who were the Almoravid?
They were zealous Islamic militants.
How long did the Almoravid take to take over Awdaghast?
Only one raid.
Ghana got smashed basically
When did the Almoravid take Kumbi?
1076
What significant event happened in 1076?
The Almoravid took Kumbi
What did the Almoravid to once they had conquered Kumbi?
They forcibly converted the Soninke ruling class and then spread Islam all over the huge kingdom.
How did the Kingdom of Ghana end?
The king’s power diminished and in the late 12th century the Soso people ascended to power and took it over. Ghana started to decline.
Who were the Soso people?
They were anti-Muslim Malinke clan from mountains southeast of Kumbi.
When did the Soso people ascend to power?
1180 to 1230.
What was the kingdom of Mali’s ranking in biggest empires at the time?
The Kingdom of Mali was the second largest empire at the time.
The Mongolian empire was first.