West African Empires

Mali, Songhi, and Ghana

Slides on Achievements:
Mali (9-13)
Ghana (9-23)
Songhi (30-34)
Ghana Empire
Where was Ghana located?
The Empire of Ghana was located in Western Africa in
what is today the countries of Mauritania, Senegal, and
Mali. The region lies just south of the Sahara Desert and
is mostly savanna grasslands. Major rivers in the region
such as the Gambia River, Senegal River, and the Niger
River served as the means of transportation and trade.
The capital city of Ancient Ghana was Koumbi Saleh. This
is where the King of Ghana lived in his royal palace.
Archeologists estimate that up to 20,000 people lived in
and around the capital city.Ancient Ghana ruled from
around 300 to 1100 CE. The empire first formed when a
number of tribes of the Soninke peoples were united
under their first king, Dinga Cisse. The government of the
empire was a feudal government with local kings who paid
tribute to the high king, but ruled their lands as they saw
fit.
Achievements:
1. Technological
a. Iron work
2. Intellectual
a. Salt and Gold Trade
3. Artistic
a. Gold jewelry, woodcarvings, and weaving
4. Literary
a. Great storytellers
Technological Achievements
Ghana’s power came from its ability to use iron weapons to control the trading of
gold and salt. Iron-tipped spearheads, lances, knives, and swords gave ancient
Soninke soldiers technological superiority over their neighbors who used bone and
wood. Locally obtained iron ore was also used to make tools, which made
agriculture easier and more efficient, and permitted the growth of larger settled
communities.
Intellectual Achievements
Ghana was extremely wealthy, often being referred to as the "Land of Gold." They
controlled the trade route between gold and salt mines and offered protection to
the traders in exchange for gold nuggets. The King received the nuggets and only
allowed gold dust to be traded. In addition to the nuggets they also taxed the salt
being traded. Ancient Ghana discovered iron and used it to make more effective
tools and weapons. As a result, Ghana became a more powerful empire and had
greater control over the trade routes. They also utilized the camel for their trading
endeavors with other kingdoms.
Artistic Achievements
Ghana's visual arts include gold jewelry, wood carvings and
weaving. Gold was traditionally only worn by the Akan king and
Nobility. The Ashanti people are known for their carved wooden
stools. The golden stool - symbol of Ashanti nation and most
sacred stool of all.
Literary Achievements
Example: Anansi The Spider
Mali Empire
Where was Mali located?
The Empire of Mali was established
around 1235 CE. It began to lose
power in the 1400s and fully
collapsed in 1600 CE. The Empire of
Mali was located in Western Africa. It
grew up along the Niger River and
eventually spread across 1,200 miles
from the city of Gao to the Atlantic
Ocean. It's northern border was just
south of the Sahara Desert.
Achievements:
1. Technological
a. Mud architecture
2. Intellectual
a. Salt and Gold Trade
b. Astronomical observations
3. Artistic
a. Terracotta statues
4. Literary
a. Griots as storytellers
Technological Achievements
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mud-masons-of-mali

Click on the link and read the article about the mud buildings in Mali
Intellectual Achievements
The Dogon people of Mali amassed a wealth of detailed astronomical
observations. Many of their discoveries were so advanced that some modern
scholars credit their discoveries instead to space aliens or unknown European
travelers, even though the Dogon culture is steeped in ceremonial tradition
centered on several space events. The Dogon knew of Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s
moons, the spiral structure of the Milky Way and the orbit of the Sirius star system.
Hundreds of years ago, they plotted orbits in this system accurately through the
year 1990. They knew this system contained a primary star and a secondary star
(now called Sirius B) of immense density and not visible to the naked eye.
Artistic Achievements
These sculptures from the country of Mali were created sometime between the
13th and 15th centuries The primary reason for the survival of this sculpture is the
permanence of the material--fired clay or terracotta. Unlike wood, fired clay does
not deteriorate over time, although it can be broken.
Literary Achievements
ORAL HISTORY is a form of West African oral tradition. It is the recording,
preservation and interpretation of historical information, based on the storyteller’s
personal experiences and opinions. It often takes the form of eyewitness account
about past events, but can include folklore, myths, songs and stories passed down
over the years by word of mouth.

WEST AFRICAN FABLES & FOLKTALES are full of wisdom and generally convey
a moral or teach a lesson. Often these lessons are ones of resourcefulness,
independence, and illustrate the rewards of courage. There are different types of
folktales, with fables and talking beasts’ stories among the most common. African
proverbs can convey wisdom, truth, a discovery of ideas, as well as life lessons.
Songhai Empire
Where was Songhai located?
The Songhai Empire (aka Songhay, c.
1460 - c. 1591 CE) replaced the Mali
Empire (1240-1645 CE) as the most
important state in West Africa
(covering modern southern Mauritania
and Mali). Originating as a smaller
kingdom along the eastern side of the
bend of the Niger River c. 1000 CE,
the Songhai would expand their
territory dramatically from the reign of
King Sunni Ali (1464-1492 CE).
Achievements:
1. Technological
a. Developed canoes up to 100 feet long and 13 feet wide
b. Used protective armor and iron tipped weapons.
2. Intellectual
a. Standardized the weights, measures, and currency to lessen trade
differences
b. Included cavalry in their military
c. Salt and Gold Trade
3. Artistic
a. Pottery and ceramic work
4. Literary
a. Timbuktu’s Golden Age led to the writing of thousands of manuscripts
and the city becoming a center of learning of religion, art, and the
Technological Achievements
River Boats

The Mali and Songhai built boats 100 feet long and 13 feet wide that could carry
up to 80 tons. Currents in the Atlantic Ocean flow from this part of West Africa to
South America. Genetic evidence from plants and descriptions and art from
societies inhabiting South America at the time suggest small numbers of West
Africans sailed to the east coast of South America and remained there.

They built river boats using wood from the cailcedrat tree. On the river boats, the
Songhai people fished, hunted, and transported goods and people by water.
Intellectual Achievements
Weights and Measures System

A system of weights and measures us used for buying and selling. In very ancient
periods fixed measurements were established, initially for barter (trade). For that
reason, most of the first measures were things like the palm of the hand, a day's
journey, seeds of grain, and simple utensils. As time progressed, the Songhai
empire improved and made the weights and measures more precise. The
currency (money) was standardized within the Empire’s land, so Songhai
economy could be homogenized (make the same). Taxes were paid by each
province of the Empire and taxes were also charged over the trade going through
the Kingdom of Songhai.
Artistic Achievements
Songhai art was a combination of Muslim and African influences. Plentiful clay
allowed for a variety of pottery and ceramic work, including various kinds of
vessels and possibly some figurines resembling people and animals.
Literary Achievements
Even as far back as the early 1500s, historians have noted the importance of
literature in Songhai. One of the great military leaders and emperors of the
Songhai Empire, known as Askia the Great, was credited with promoting
universities and Malian education at the time. Not only bringing in some of the
world’s greatest scholars, he also built one of the largest book publishing centers
in this region of Africa. One early explorer wrote about this area, saying that the
demand for books is huge, especially from the North African states, and that
Malians earn more profit from producing books than any other industry.
Lasting Impact
West African Kingdoms’ Impact
1. Salt and gold trade
a. It brought great wealth to an area that was the epicenter of the world for centuries.
2. Literature in Timbuktu
a. Many great books were writing and collected in one place. It was the start of mass education
of people. It became the center of learning for the world
3. Iron weapons
a. Changed how warfare was fought. More advanced weapons were created with the materials
from West Africa
4. Canoes
a. Brought African culture to a world scale. People were transported to other continents and their
traditions and beliefs influenced others
5. Military Tactics
a. More advanced military organization was created. This influenced how other great leaders
would utilize their soldiers