 | Term | Definition |
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Silent Barter |
a process in which people exchange goods without contacting each other directly |
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Niger River |
The major river in west Africa |
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Timbuktu |
a major cultural and trading city in the Mali and Songhai empires |
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Mosque |
A place of prayer for Muslims |
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Gao |
The capital of the Songhai Empire |
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Djenné |
a city that became a center of learning |
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Oral history |
the spoken stories of a culture's history passed down to generations |
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griots |
a west African storyteller |
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proverbs |
short sayings of wisdom or truth |
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Kente |
hand-woven African silk fabric |
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What two rivers bordered the Ghanaian Empire |
Senegal River, and Niger River |
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Who were the first people in Ghana? |
the Soninke |
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What good came from the north? |
Salt |
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What good came from the south? |
Gold |
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By what year had Ghana firmly in control of West Africa's trade routes? |
800 |
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In what way did Ghana's leaders make money off of the traders? |
Taxes |
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In which way did the King insure that he was richer than his subjects? |
He was the only person allowed to have gold nuggets, and his subjects were only allowed to use gold dust. |
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How did regular Ghanaians use gold dust? |
As money |
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What made Ghana's Kings even richer than they were? |
They conquered neighboring countries. |
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How did Ghanaian Kings control their empire? |
They allowed conquered kings to retain much of their power. |
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Under whom did Ghana reach its peak? |
Tunka Manin |
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By what time was Ghana rich and powerful? |
mid 1000's |
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By what time had the Empire collapsed? |
end of the 1200's |
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How many factors contributed to Ghana's end? |
3 |
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What were the factors that contributed to Ghana's collapse? |
Invasion, overgrazing, and internal rebellion |
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Who invaded Ghana, and how long did the Ghanaians keep them at bay? |
The Almoravids, 14 |
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How did overgrazing contribute to Ghana's end? |
The Almoravid animals ate all of the grass exposing the soil to hot desert winds. The winds blew the soil away making it unusable to farm, and the farmers left in search of new homes. |
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How did internal rebellion contribute to Ghana's decline? |
The people Ghana conquered rose up in rebellion, and took over all of Ghana. |
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Where was Mali located? |
Mali was located along the the upper Niger River. |
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Under whom did Mali rise to power? |
Sundiata |
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When did he conquer nearby kingdoms including Ghana? |
1230's |
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How did Sundiata get more power, and what name did he take from them? |
He took away power from the local leaders. Mansa |
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What roles did the Mansa have in society? |
Religious, and Political |
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When did Sundiata die? |
1255 |
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What was a similarity between Sundiata and later rulers? |
They all called themselves Mansa. |
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What was a difference between Sundiata and later rulers? |
They were Muslim, and he was not. |
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What was Mali's most famous ruler? |
Mansa Musa |
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What religion was Mansa Musa? |
He was Muslim. |
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Under Mansa Musa's skilled leadership Mali reached the height of its wealth, power, and fame in what time? |
1300's |
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Because of Mansa Musa's influence what grew and gained new believers? |
Islam |
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Mansa Musa ruled for how many years? |
25 |
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During his reign what important trade city did Mansa Musa add to his empire? |
Timbuktu |
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What year did Mans Musa take his pilgramage to Mecca? |
1324 |
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What did Mansa Musa do on his journey? |
He introduced his empire to the Islamic world, and spread Mali's fame far and wide. |
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Mansa Musa greatly supported education. Where did he send his scholars? |
Morocco |
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What did the scholars Mansa Musa sent to Morocco do after they came back? |
They built schools in Mali. |
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After Mans Musa died who took over, and what was his relationship to Mansa Musa? |
Maghan, son |
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What kind of ruler was Maghan? |
He was a weak ruler. |
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How did raiders lead to Mali's decline? |
They attacked and burned schools and Mosques, and Mali could never recover from the attacks. |
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In 1431 who seized Timbuktu? |
the Tuareg |
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Who were the Tuareg? |
They are nomads from the Sahara. |
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Even as Mali was growing what rival kingdom was also growing, and what was its capital? |
The Songhai, and its capital was Gao. |
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When did Mansa Musa conquer the Songhai? |
The 1300's |
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What allowed The Songhai and the North African Berbers to trade? |
They shared the same religion. |
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Under which leader did The Songhai grow and become and empire? |
Sunni Ali |
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In what year did Sunni Ali become ruler of Songhai? |
1464 |
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Before Sunni Ali the Songhai empire had been disorganized and poorly run. What did he do to build stabibility? |
He unified , strengthened, and enlarged his empire. He encouraged everyone in his empire to work together, and participated in both Islam and local religions. |
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When did Sunni Ali die? |
1492 |
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How long did Sunni Ali rule Songhai? |
35 years |
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Who came after Sunni Ali? |
his son Sunni Baru |
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Why were the people of Songhai afraid that their leader (Sunni Baru) did not support Islam? |
They feared they would lose all of their trade with other Muslim countries. |
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What did the people of Songhai do because their king was not Muslim? |
They rebelled against him. |
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Who was the leader of the rebellion against Sunni Baru? |
Muhammed Ture |
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What title did Muhammed Ture chose, and what does it mean? |
Askia, and it means high military rank. |
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Under Asika's rule what city flourished? |
Timbuktu |
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Under Asika what was Timbuktu known for? |
The University of Sankore |
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What did Asika do to maintain order? |
He set up five providences, appointed governors loyal to him, created a professional army, and specialized departments to oversee tasks. |
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Why did Morocco attack Songhai? |
Morocco wanted to gain control of Songhai's salt mines? |
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What weapons did the Moroccan Army use against the people of Songhai? |
Aquebus, and cannons |
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What weapons did the people of Songhai use against the Moroccan Army? |
Swords, spears, and arrows |
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How did trade change when Songhai was falling? |
Overland trade declined, Atlantic port cities became more important, and European traders preferred to trade with the ports instead of Muslim traders. |
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What did the change in trading patterns end besides the Songhai Empire? |
It ended the period of great West African Empires. |
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What was one of the only written languages in West Africa? |
Arabic |
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How did most West Africans past down history? |
By oral history |
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Why were Griots highly respected? |
The People of West Africa were very interested in the deeds of their ancestors. |
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What did the Griots' stories tell? |
They told of important past events and of accomplishments of distant ancestors. |
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How did Griots liven up their stories? |
The acted out the events. |
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What did Griots do in addition to telling stories? |
They recited proverbs. |
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What is the meaning of this West African proverb: "Talking does not fill the basket in the farm?" |
People cannot just talk about what they want to do, they have to do it. |
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How did some historical facts get distorted when passed down from generation to generation? |
The Griots confused names and events in their heads. |
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What are some of the Griots long poems? |
Epics |
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What does the Dausi tell? |
It tells of the history of Ghana, mixed in with myths and legends. |
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According to one Dausi story what caused Ghana to fall? |
A mighty warrior killed Bida, a Ghanaian god, and has he was dying he cursed Ghana. |
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What does the Sundiata explain? |
It explains about Sundiata, Mali's great leader. |
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What happens in the Sundiata? |
Sundiata's father and 11 brothers are killed by and evil conqueror. |
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Why is Sundiata spared in the killing of his family? |
He is sick and does not look like a threat. |
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In addition to oral history how else do we know about early West Africa? |
From visitors' accounts. |
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Who was the most famous Muslim visitor to right about early West Africa? |
Ibn Battuta |
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During what years dis Ibn Battuta travel around the region? |
1353- 1354 |
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What is so special about Ibn Battua's accoun of early West Africa? |
It described the political and cultural lives of West Africans in great detail? |
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What did West Africans express their creativity in? |
Sculpture, Mask-making, cloth-making, music, and dance |
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Of the West African art-forms which one is known the most, and what did they make it out of? |
Masks, Wood, brass, clay, ivory, or stone |
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Who did the West Africans mostly make their statues to look like? |
The sculptors ancestors |
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The statues were made for religious purposes and...? |
To ask for their ancestors blessing. |
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Sculptors also made statues for what reason? |
As a gift to the gods. |
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Who did early West African art inspire? |
Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and other European artist of the 1900's. |
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What were African masks used for, and what made them look fierce and lifelike? |
Rituals, and the firelight reflected off the masks. |
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Who wore Kente clothe, and why? |
Kings and Queens, and for special occasions. |
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Singing was not only for entertainment it was for ...? |
Helping people honor their history, and mark special occasions. Music was also played when a ruler entered the room. |
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Many West African cultures used dance to celebrate special events and ceremonies, such as? |
Weddings, and funerals |
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