Important People
This wealthy king of Mali was a devout Muslim, who crashed the economy with how much gold he spent during his pilgrimage to Mecca.
Who is Mansa Musa?
This early African empire gained its wealth by taxing merchants traveling in and out of its borders.
What is Ghana?
This cultural practice involves memorizing a people's history and stories (instead of writing them), and sharing them with the next generation.
What is Oral Tradition?
This massive desert lies in the northern region of Africa.
What is the Sahara Desert?
This North African writer traveled two-thirds the length of the world, as far as Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Who is Ibn Battuta?
This powerful African empire gained its wealth through gold mines, and built many mosques, libraries, and schools.
What is Mali?
These West African poets, singers, and storytellers practice the tradition of Oral Tradition by teaching the next generation.
Who are the Griot?
The Mali Empire inhabited these warm, grasslands, home to many of Africa's best known wildlife.
What is Savanna?
This legendary king of Mali conquered the Empire of Ghana, and was reported to have magical powers.
Who is Sundiata Keita?
This African empire was the first of its kind to own firearms, but was eventually invaded by Moroccans.
What is Songhai?
This trade route led the Berbers from their homes in North Africa to the sub-Saharan lands of West Africa.
What is Trans-Saharan?
This trade route lead Arabic traders from East Africa to India, north and south with the seasonal winds.
What is Trans-Indian Ocean?
These North African people traded across the Sahara Desert, bringing salt and Islam to West Africa.
Who are the Berbers?
These independent cities traded up and down the East African coast, primarily with Arabic merchants traveling to and from India.
What are the West African City-States?
This blended culture is made up of Afro-Arabic peoples, of both East African and Arabic descent, and shares a name with its most common language.
What is Swahili?
Africa is often mistaken for a country, instead of this landmass, of which seven exist in the world.
What is a continent?