Africa

Medieval Africa

Students will examine the geography of the continent of Africa and the development of sub-Saharan societies and the importance of natural resources in creating those societies such as salt and gold. Students will also analyze the achievements of Medieval African societies - three main societies of Ghana, Mali and Songhai - and how those societies rose and fell.

Big Idea: A civilization’s way of life is a product of both people and place.

Essential Questions: How did the environment affect the development and expansion of the Ghana and Mali empires and the trade networks that connected them? Why was Mali a site of encounter? What were the effects of the exchanges at Mali? How did Arab, North African, and West African perspectives differ on West African kingdoms?

Medieval Africa Standards:

- Development of sub-Saharan societies and the importance of natural resources in creating those societies
  - Standard 7.4.1 - Study the Niger River and the relationship of vegetation zones of forest, savannah, and desert to trade in gold, salt, food, and slaves; and the growth of the Ghana and Mali empires.
- Medieval African societies - three main societies of Ghana, Mali and Songhai - how those societies rose and fell
  - Standard 7.4.2 - Analyze the importance of family, labor specialization, and regional commerce in the development of states and cities in West Africa.
- Achievements of medieval African societies
  - Standard 7.4.5 - Describe the importance of written and oral traditions in the transmission of African history and culture.
  - Standard 7.4.4 - Trace the growth of the Arabic language in government, trade, and Islamic scholarship in West Africa.

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