islamic kingdoms and empires: in West africa (trans saharan trade) Flashcards
how did islam get to subsaharan africa
- N Africa
- SW Asia
- 1) to W Africa by trans saharan trade routes
2) to E Africa by Indian Ocean sea lanes
important animal that increased pace of communication/transportation across the sahara
camel
where did camels come from
Arabia through Egypt and Sudan
the principal state of west Africa at the time of the muslims arrival
kingdom of Ghana
between Senegal and Niger rivers-between Mali and Mauritania
how did ghana become so important
-it became the most important commercial sit in W Africa b/c it was the center of trade of gold
(kings tax trade that passes through Ghana to get money)
why was gold in high demand
economic development and surging trade
in
mediterranean world, islamic world
where did the kingdom of Ghana get the gold
from the head waters of the Niger, Senegal, Gambia rivers
what else did Ghana trade
ivory and slaves for N Africa
-for horses, cloth, wares, salt
Ghana’s capital
Koumbi-Saleh
Islam in Ghana
- tenth century the kings cover to islam
- but don’t enforce it unlike the neighboring kings of Taker do
how did ghana collapse
as it expanded N, nomadic people could attack easier from the Sahara
-in the 13th century, raids from the desert weakened the kingdom and it collapsed
-the mali empire eventually takes over
what did sundial do
built the Mali empire after his returned from exile
-alliances with local rulers
-show courage in battle
-assembles a large army and large cavalry
-
Mali benefits from trade
-even more than Ghana did
-they taxed all trade through W africa
-
Mali capital
Nina
-center for merchants who want to enter the gold trade
Mali religion
Islam
-not enforced but encouraged
Who led to decrease value in gold
Mansa Musa
-sundiata’s grand nephew
what did Mansa Musa do?
- in the “high point” of the empire, he went to pilgrimage to Mecca
- formed a gargantuan caravan with soldiers, attendants, slaves, servants, camels with lots of gold
-along the way, he distributed so much gold, that its with dropped 25%
Mali decline?
- factions
- provinces seceded from the empire
- military pressure from neighbor kingdom s and desert nomads
by 15th century, Shanghai empire had taken over Mali completely
