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300
Ghana Rises
Ghana is placed between the Sahara in the North and Forests to the South. Ghana was in the perfect place for trading gold and salt. The people of Ghana rose in strength and started using iron. As trade increased Ghana gained more power. By 800 Ghana was firmly was in firm control of West Africa's trade routes. -
Jan 1, 1000
Tunka Manin
Ghana reached its peak under Tunka Manin. He had a lavish court where he displayed the wealth of the empire. -
Period: Jan 1, 1060 to Jan 1, 1200
The Fall of Ghana
The 3 main factors of Ghana's fall was invasion, overgrazing, and internal rebellion. First Almoravids attacked Ghana and weakened the Empire, they cut off trade routes and Ghana wasn't able to support themselves. The animals the invaders brought ate all the grass making all the soil unable to be farmed on. The last factor that leads to Ghana's fall was internal rebellion. The people of a country that Ghana took over rose up and took over. But they weren't able to keep order. -
Period: Jan 1, 1230 to Jan 1, 1255
Mali becomes an Empire
Mali's location on the Niger river gave the people there control of the trade on the river. According to legend, Mali's rise to power began under the rule of Sundiata. When Sundiata was a boy a harsh ruler took over Mali. When he got older he built an army and gained back the country's independence. He conquered neighboring lands and took over trade. To keep order in his kingdom he took power from local leaders and called himself the Mansa. -
Period: Jan 1, 1312 to Jan 1, 1337
Mansa Musa
Mansa Musa was Mali's most famous leader. Under his leadership, Mali reached the height of its wealth, power, and fame in the 1300's. Because of his influence, Islam spread out through a large part of West Africa. During his rule he had added many important trade cities to its empire. He also suppported education. -
Jan 1, 1400
Songhai Takes Mali and Build an Empire
In the 1300's Mali conquered Songhai, but as the empire weakened the people of Songhai rebelled and regained their freedom. Over time Songhai became richer through trade, they expanded their territory and built an empire. -
Period: Jan 1, 1431 to Jan 1, 1500
Mali Falls
When Mansa Musa died his son, Maghan, took the throne. He was a weak ruler, so when raiders poured into Mali he couldn't stop them. Mali never fully recovered so the empire continued to weaken and decline. In 1431 the Tuareg seized Timbuktu. By 1500 only a very small part of Mali was left. -
Period: Jan 1, 1464 to Jan 1, 1538
Sunni Ali and Askia the Great
Songhai's expansion was led by Sunni Ali. Before he took over, the Songhai state had been disorganized and poorly run. As king, he encouraged everyone to work together and he brought stability to Songhai. The person who followed his death was his son who was a NonMuslim, the people of Songhai rebelled against him in fear that they would lose trade. The leader of that rebellion is known as Askia the Great. He supported education so universities flourished. He also set up provinces. -
Songhai Falls to Morocco.
Songhai's northern rival, Morocco, wanted control of Songhai's salt mines. So they set out for the heart of Songhai. They carried advanced weapons, including the arquebus, which was an early form of the gun. Songhai's warriors were no match so invaders destroyed Timbuktu and Gao.
