Religion
The people of West Africa originally followed this belief system.
Animism
Covering about 3.6 million square miles, this vast desert stretches across North Africa and has played a crucial role in shaping trade routes and cultural exchange.
The Sahara desert
According to legend, this leader is considered the founder of the Ghana Empire and the first ruler of the Soninke people.
Dinga Cisse
This precious metal, abundant in the kingdom of Mali, was one of the primary exports of West Africa and helped fuel the region’s wealth and influence.
Gold
The North African Berbers were what religion?
Islamic
This North African country’s control over trans-Saharan trade routes allowed it to exert influence over West African empires like Mali and Songhai.
Morrocco
This king of the Ghana Empire, known for his wealth and splendor, ruled during its peak in the 11th century and impressed Muslim writers with his opulence and political strength.
Tunka Manin
This mineral, which was abundant in the Sahara Desert, was crucial to West African trade and was used both for preserving food and as a valuable commodity.
Salt
The belief that all living beings have a spirit, even non-living things can contain a soul.
Animism
This major West African river, flowing over 2,500 miles, has historically supported agriculture, trade, and settlement along its banks.
The Niger River
Though not a ruler of the Kingdom of Ghana, this famous Malian emperor’s pilgrimage to Mecca highlighted the wealth and influence of West African kingdoms to the wider Islamic world.
Mansa Musa
This system of trade, involving the movement of goods across the Sahara Desert, was vital to the economies of West African kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
Trans-Saharan Trade
This religious tradition gradually spread through trade and political influence in the Kingdom of Ghana, coexisting with indigenous animist beliefs and shaping the region's cultural and political landscape.
What is Islam?
This large body of water borders West Africa to the west and has played a crucial role in trade, exploration, and cultural exchange for centuries.
The Atlantic Ocean
This ruler of the Ghana Empire is known for his fair and just rule, with accounts of him providing stability and promoting trade during his reign in the 11th century.
Tenkamenin
This North African dynasty, composed mainly of Berbers, played a key role in the spread of Islam across West Africa in the 11th century and helped shape the political landscape of the region
Almoravids
This narrow semi-arid region forms a transitional zone between the Sahara Desert and the more fertile savannas to the south.
The Sahel
This Ghanaian ruler is said to have resisted the spread of Islam in the empire, maintaining traditional beliefs and practices.
Bassi
These nomadic people from North Africa were instrumental in the trade routes across the Sahara and were known for their role in the spread of Islam to the West African empires.
Berbers