8-3 Western Africa

Africa Section 3: Trading States of Africa

In this section

1. You will learn about other trading states of Africa.

2. You will discover how trade developed along the East African coast.

3. You will also find out how the kingdoms of West Africa became prosperous and powerful

Vocabulary

Swahili: African culture and language that emerged in East Africa and combined elements of African, Asian, and Islamic cultures

Shona: People who migrated onto the plateau of what is known today as Zimbabwe Tunka Manin: One of Ghana's most powerful rulers, who ruled in the A.D. 1000s.

Mansa M_s_: King of Mali at its peak in the A.D. 1300s who led a mass pilgrimage to Mecca displaying the riches and power of Mali

Sonni ‘Al: Rebel leader who captured Timbuktu and established the kingdom of Songhai

Mohammed I Askia: Songhai ruler and successor to Sonni ‘Al_ who made Timbuktu a center of culture, trade, and learning

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Essential Questions

1. What factors helped make East Africa a center for trade

2. How important was trade in West Africa? Why?

City-states controlled trade on the East African coast. Sailing ships were powered by seasonal monsoon winds. Trade routes linked all shores of the Indian Ocean. Africans exported gold, ivory, hides, tortoise shells, and slaves. They imported Asian porcelain and weapons. The spread of the Islamic religion to Africa spurred trade. Increased wealth drew Muslim settlers from Arabia and Persia. People from Indonesia settled on the island of Madagascar.

A unique culture, Swahili, developed in East Africa. It combined elements of African, Asian, and Islamic cultures. Its people spoke Swahili, a Bantu language with Arabic and Persian influences. Swahili city-states included Mogadishu (moh·guh·DEE·shoo), Mombasa, and Kilwa. Kilwa became a beautiful city with a massive trade center and a large mosque. Kilwa merchants traded gold from mines in central Africa.

The Shona people had migrated onto the plateau of present-day Zimbabwe. The Shona became wealthy and powerful from the gold trade. Great Zimbabwe was the center of the Shona state. It was a well-built hilltop fortress with many rooms and passageways. In the A.D. 1400s Great Zimbabwe declined. Perhaps food and water supplies could not keep pace with growth.

In West Africa, at the Sahara’s southern edge, gold was traded for salt mined in the desert. Traders from the north wanted gold for trade with Europe. West African cities grew into major commercial centers. Later, traders also exchanged slaves and ivory for textiles, jewels, and copper. West African monarchs adorned themselves in gold. Below the royal family were government officials. Then came merchants, farmers, fishers, cattle breeders, and slaves

The earliest West African kingdom was Ghana. Its people traded gold and salt and farmed using iron tools. Kings grew wealthy from the gold trade. One of Ghana’s most powerful rulers, Tunka Manin, ruled in the A.D. 1000s. He commanded an army of 200,000 soldiers. However, invasions from the north and loss of trade weakened Ghana.

It was replaced by the kingdom of Mali. Mali reached its peak in the A.D. 1300s under its great ruler Mansa Musa who supported education, the arts, and public building.

The city of Timbuktu became a center of learning. Its university drew scholars from Egypt and Arabia. Mansa Musa led a pilgrimage of 80,000 people to Mecca, an Islamic holy place in Arabia. He carried much gold, displaying his power and wealth. But conflicts over Mansa Musa's successor weakened Mali.

The rebel leader Sonni ‘Al_ captured Timbuktu and established the kingdom of Songhai. Songhai was centered at the trading city of Gao (GAH·oh) on the Niger River. Sonni ‘Al_ was a skilled administrator. He divided the kingdom into provinces, each managed by a governor. A fleet of warships patrolled the Niger River, protecting trade. Mohammed I Askia succeeded Sonni ‘Al_ and built on his achievements. Askia helped make Timbuktu a center of many cultures and trade with Europe, India, and China. Timbuktu again became a center of learning. After Askia’s death, the empire declined due to internal fighting. In 1591 a Moroccan army defeated Songhai.

Key Ideas

• The West African trading kingdoms, such as Mali and Songhai, flourished due to their extensive trade in gold, ivory, and salt.

• Making a pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Therefore, Mali leader Mansa Musa’s journey indicates that he was a Muslim.

• Mansa Musa was fulfilling one of the Five Pillars of Islam by making a pilgrimage from Mali to Mecca. This indicates that Islam had a major influence on the Mali Empire, because one of its greatest rulers was a practicing Muslim.

Answers to the Essential Questions

1. What factors helped make East Africa a center for trade

• East Africa became a center for trade because of its location on the Indian Ocean, giving it access to important trade routes. Seasonal monsoon winds powered trade ships. Also, gold shipped from mines in central Africa was in high demand as a trade item.

2. How important was trade in West Africa? Why?

• Trade was key to West Africa. The gold-for-salt exchange was the basis for their economy. The area along the southern edge of the Sahara was too arid for crops, so trade was critical. Powerful kingdoms arose based on wealth and power acquired from trade.