West Africa Art and Economy
This was valuable in people’s diets and was used to preserve and season foods.
What is salt?
History wasn't written down in West Africa, history was remembered through storytellers in a process known as this
What is oral tradition or oral history?
The first great West African trading center
What is Ghana?
According to legend, Mali's rise to power began under this leader
Who is Sundiata?
Berbers were willing to trade with Songhai because they shared this religion.
WHAT IS ISLAM?
The Niger River empty into these two water sources?
1st into the Bay of Guinea, then the Atlantic Ocean
The people of Ghana would exchange salt and gold through a process called this
What is the silent barter?
This made the peope a target for invaders.
Riches from Gold and Salt
Savannah
Mali's greatest and most famous ruler was this Muslim king who enlarged this empire by making conquered (subject) kings pay him tribute
Who was Mansa Musa?
These people are African storytellers who memorize and recite the names and histories of their people including memorizing family trees
What are griots?
Mali's location on this river allowed its people to control its trade
What is the Niger river?
This trade route was responsible for the trading of gold, salt, slaves, and etc.
Trans Saharan Trade Route
This resource was significant for West Africans for help with clearing the lands and making superior weapons
What is Iron?
Men and women in traditional West Africa society belonged to this group
What are extended families (tribes) or age-sets?
in 1324, Muslim King Mansa Musa went on this, introducing his empire to his religion.
What is a pilgrimage for Islam?
The founder and leader of Songhai.
Sunni Ali
The tropical Sahara desert climate could be described as this
What is dry with hot summers?
The trans-Saharan Trade routes brought highly valued commodities such as gold and slaves but also brought this to West Africa
What is Islamic culture?
These people led desert caravans through the Sahara?
Who were the Berbers?
This is a belief that bodies of water, animals, trees, and other natural objects have spirits
What is animism?
This founder of Mali became very rich by taxing trade and was able to construct impressive building in the kingdom of Mali
Who was Sundiata Keita?
donkey, camels, and boats
What three empires in western Africa flourished because of the trans-Saharan trade of gold and salt? (In order)
Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
The Nok people were the first Africans to extract iron from rock through this process
What is smelting?
Kings (mansas) were able to raise profits for their empires by doing what?
By taxing the goods people brought into and then out of their empire
These people were Muslims who attacked Ghana and cut off many of its trade routes, weakening the empire
Who were the Almoravids?
In 1431, the Tuareg seized this important city of cultural and a center for educational importance, ruining the Mali empire
What was Timbuktu?
For special occasions, West African kings and queens wore garments made of this brightly colored fabric.
What is kente?
Where and why did Mansa Musa go to ?
To Mecca on a relgious pilgramage.