Ghana Mali and Songhai

Ghana's Silent Barter

300

They came up with the silent barter. When they exchanged salt and gold they would leave them on the riverbanks. They did so the other person would not know where the gold/salt came and so they would not try to hurt them to get the goods, or if they could not speak each other's languages.

Ghana builds an Empire

Jan 1, 800

Ghana had gotten more and more rich and powerful and had many goods for trading. They had armies with iron weapons which took over neighboring countries and Ghana became larger and larger.

Ghana's Fall

Jan 1, 1200

Ghana had risen and become an amazing empire, but by the early 1200's it had been destroyed and was destructed. First invaders took over and tried to control it, but they didn't control for long. They weakened the empire and cut off trade routes without which Ghana could not survive. The invaders brought animals that ate all the crops and left the soil open to winds, which left the soil bad for farming. Rebellions inside the empire also started and caused the decline.

Mali became an Empire

Jan 1, 1230

When Sundiata was young, Mali was ruled by many terrible leaders. He grew up, made an army, and took over though.He also conquered nearby countries, including Ghana. When he took over Ghana he took over the salt and gold trades. In Mali, he improved agriculture and introduced cotton. He made new farmlands for farmers to grow crops on. To make sure everything was running smoothly, he took away power from local leaders and made himself mansa, which had a religious and political meaning to them.

Mansa Musa

Jan 1, 1312

Mali's most famous ruler was Mansa Musa.When he was ruling Mali was at it's peak of wealth, power, and fame. He ruled for 25 years and during that time, he added many important trade cities to the empire. Mansa Musa was also a Muslim and was very religious. He left on a pilgrimage to Mecca and introduced the empire to the "Islamic World." He also supported education and sent many people to school and to set up schools in Mali. He also wanted everyone to be able to read the Qur'an.

Mali's Decline

Jan 1, 1400

When Mansa Musa died, his son Maghan took over, but he was a weak ruler. He could not stop raiders from the southeast and they set fire to Timbuktu's great schools and mosques. Mali never fully recovered from this and the empire continued to be destroyed.Then, nomads from the Sahara took over Timbuktu and people on the edge of Mali started to move away. Then by 1500, nearly all the lands were lost and only a small area remained.

Songhai's Rise

Jan 1, 1464

Mansa Musa conquered Songhai and took their lands. When Mali declined the people of Songhai rebelled and got their freedom back. The Songhai leaders were Muslims and so were many North African Berbers who traded in West Africa.They traded with each other and the Songhai grew richer. They made an empire which was led by Sunni Ali.Before him, Songhai was a mess and unorganized. Sunni Ali made Songhai flourish and enlarged and unified the empire.

Askia The Great

Jan 1, 1492

When Sunni Ali died, his son took over and the people worried that since he was not Muslim,he would not support Islam and stop trading with other Muslim countries.They rebelled against him with Muhammed Ture leading.After overthrowing the king,he became the new leader,Askia the Great.He supported education and learning and made Timbuktu thrive.Many came to it's universities, schools and libraries. He made laws like those in other Muslim places.He also made five provinces and created governors.

Songhai's Fall

Jan 1, 1500

Morroco wanted to take Songhai's salt trade. Morroco fought them, and they had guns and weapons which overpowered their spears and swords. When Morroco took over, they focused more on oversea trade and land trade declined.Eventually, the reign of the West African empires ended.