A.4


=Identify the locations and time periods of the sub-Saharan empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay.=



===For information about the history of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay, see World History I.18.===

Click here for a brief overview of [|African Trade Kingdoms] from the African Cultural Center.

Click here for a history of Sub-Saharan Africa

For information about the trans-Atlantic slave trade, go to [|Voyages: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database]. See also WHI.20

[|Mapping Africa]is an audio slideshow showing maps from the earliest depictions of the continent to the colonial scramble for land.

Click here for a timeline of Africa, 1st-15th centuries

Click here for a lesson plan on African empires and using the internet as a source

=**Ghana Empire **=
 * [[image:ghana empire.png width="369" height="386" align="right" caption="Location of Ghana Empire, wikimedia commons"]] Located in today's Northern Senegal and Southern Mauritania
 * Origins are not clear
 * Believed to have started in the 1st millennium AD
 * It is possible that many Soninke tribes came together under 1 ruler, Dinga Cisse
 * Joined together in response to attacks from nomads
 * The empire became wealthy from gold
 * Trade was possible because of camels
 * Trade also brought Islam to the area
 * The empire may have declined due to:
 * Trade competition
 * Drought that negatively impacted the land and resources
 * Pressure from outside empires
 * The empire was replaced by the Mali Empire around 1235
 * Click here for more info
 * [[image:lessonplan.jpg width="89" height="68"]]Click here for a lesson plan on the Ghana Empire and ancient African trade

=** Mali Empire **=
 * [[image:mali empire.PNG width="500" height="314" align="right" caption="Location of Mali Empire, wikimedia commons"]]Located in Western Africa
 * In power from the 13th to 16th century
 * Trading empire built on gold
 * Also built wealth trading salt
 * Took over the Ghana Empire after being unsatisfied with their ruler, Sumanguru
 * Empire continued the spread of Islam
 * The empire declined due to over expanding
 * Not enough political stability
 * Lacked military strength to defend the empire
 * The empire fell apart around 1550
 * Click here for more info
 * [[image:lessonplan.jpg width="75" height="71"]]Click here for ideas and essential questions about the Mali Empire

= **Songhay Empire** =
 * Located along the Niger River [[image:resourcesforhistoryteachers/SONGHAI_empire_map_BLANK.PNG width="512" height="322" align="right" caption="Songhay Empire, wikimedia commons"]]
 * Fell under the control of the Mali Empire in the 14th century
 * Sonni Ali the Great, a Songhay leader, conquered lands as the Mali Empire fell apart
 * The empire traded gold, kola nuts, and slaves
 * Empire declined in part because of drought and disease
 * Morocco invaded in 1591 for control over the gold trade
 * The Songhay Empire was unprepared for the battle and Morocco defeated them
 * Moroccan army looted and pillaged the the empire
 * Click here for more info
 * [[image:lessonplan.jpg width="97" height="78"]]Click here for a primary source activity involving the Songhay Empire