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Section 3
Societies of West Africa
The peoples of West Africa developed sophisticated kingdoms,
trade networks, and artistic achievements.
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Ghana Grows Wealthy
• Camel caravans cross Sahara; connect West
Africa with rest of world
• First West African kingdom, Ghana, grows rich
from gold and salt trade
• Controls this trade from 700s to mid-1000s
• Kings impose taxes, use wealth for army, build
empire
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Islam Enters Ghana
• Muslims—followers of the religion Islam
• Islam—founded by prophet Muhammad;
teaches that there is one God, Allah
• Muslim traders bring Islam from North Africa to
West Africa
• In 1076, Muslim army conquers Ghana city
and weakens Ghana’s power
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Mali Replaces Ghana
• By 1200s, kingdom of Mali conquers most of
Ghana
• Its wealth also comes from gold-salt trade
• Mali’s ruler, Sundiata, increases Mali’s power,
prosperity
• Other great leader, Mansa Musa (1312—
1337), is Muslim
• Shows off wealth to rest of world; spreads
Islamic culture in Mali
• After Mansa Musa’s death, Mali slowly
weakens
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The Empire of Songhai
• Songhai people break away from Mali, begin
own empire
• Led by Sunni Ali, they capture Timbuktu, set
up governmental system
• Sunni Ali dies (1492); led by Askia
Muhammad, Muslims take over
• Askia Muhammad expands trade, sets up tax
system, builds Mosques
• After his death, Songhai weakens; Moroccan
army defeats Songhai (1591)
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Other West African Kingdoms
• Hausa states emerge after A.D. 1000 in northern
Nigeria; trade thrives
• Yoruba live southwest of Niger River, mostly
farmers, have gifted artists
• Kingdom of Benin in delta of Niger River
prospers through trade
• In late 1400s, Portuguese and other
Europeans trade goods with Benin
• Europeans also trade for enslaved Africans
• Use enslaved laborers to work on large farms,
called plantations
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