-
300
Ghana Gets Stonger
Ghana slowly but surely got stronger over time. They learned how to operate with iron tools, as well as herding cattle for meat and milk. This allowed them to make a bunch of food, increasing the population in Ghana's towns and villages. This sudden increase made Ghana's overall population much higher. -
Jan 1, 800
Ghana Becomes an Empire
By 800, Ghana was in strong control of all trade routes in West Africa. Trade increased, as well as Ghana's overall wealth. These trades through Ghana led to profit for this newly formed empire, too. Gold was a source of wealth in Ghana as well. Straight from the mines(and some trades too), gold was kept by the rulers of Ghana, and was eventually taken by all of Ghana's royalty. Therefore, from their wealth and control, Ghana became an empire, and a pretty strong one too. -
Jan 1, 1200
The Ghana Empire's Collapse
The three major factors that influenced this ending was invasion, overgrazing, and internal rebellions. Invasion: the Almoravid's attacked Ghana and fought for 14 years. The Almoravid's won the battle, weakening the empire. Overgrazing: The Almoravid's brought animals with them to Ghana, the animals eating up all of Ghana's grass. Internal rebellion: Some people in Ghana started to rebel. Ghana became weak under the new control of these rebels, and was defeated by one of its neighbors. -
Jan 1, 1210
Mali Becomes an Empire
Sundiata was a ruler who as an adult built up an army and won back the country's independence. He conquered nearby kingdoms including Ghana in the 1230's. After his conquering, he took over salt and gold trading, and worked to improve agriculture. He cleared farmlands for crops. To keep order in the kingdom, Sundiata took power away from local leaders. He now considered himself a Mansa. Sundiata died in 1255, and more people became rulers. -
Jan 1, 1312
Mansa Musa Makes Mali Marvelous
Mansa Musa was Mali's most famous ruler. Under his ruling, Mali had reached its best wealth, power, and fame in the 1300's. Because of Mansa Musa, Islam spread through a lot of West Africa. Mansa Musa ruled for about 25 years. During this time, Mali added many trade cities to its empire. Since religion was so important to Musa, in 1324 he left Mali on a pilgrimage to Mecca. He spread Mali's fame far. Mansa Musa had ordered people to set up schools in Mali, and mosques throughout his empire. -
Jan 1, 1338
The Mali Empire's Downfall
Upon Mansa Musa's death, his son Maghan took over. Maghan however, was a weak ruler. When raiders came, he was not able to stop them. The raiders destroyed Mali's great schools and mosques. Mali never recovered from this attack and continued to weaken and decline. In 1431 nomads from the Sahara seized Timbuktu. The people living at the edges of the empire broke away. By 1500 almost all of the lands were lost, and only a small amount of land in Mali remains. -
Jan 1, 1400
Building the Songhai Empire
When the Mali Empire weakened in the 1400's, the people of Songhai rebelled and regained their freedom. Songhai leaders were Muslim. Because of shared religion, Songhai traded and got richer from the North African Berbers. As Songhai got richer, they expanded their land and eventually built an empire. This expansion was led by Sunni Ali, who became ruler in 1464. He continued to strengthen his empire. With the help of religion and more, Sunni eventually brought stability to Songhai. -
Jan 1, 1494
Askia the Great
Sunni Baru, the son of the now dead Sunni Ali took over. The people feared Baru, and rebelled against him. After defeating Baru, Muhammad, the leader of the rebellion, went by the name of Askia, eventually known as Askia the Great. Under his rule, Timbuktu flourished, drawing many to its schooling. Askia also thrived for the growth in Islamic influence. To maintain order, Askia removed local leaders and created new governors. Askia also created a special army to look over specific tasks. -
Morocco Gets the Best of Songhai
Morocco's army sent out for Songhai in 1591. The army carried advanced weapons. The old fashioned spears and bows were no match for the Moroccans' weapons, such as the cannon and the gun. The Moroccan invaders destroyed things like Timbuktu and Gao. Things like changes in trade patterns finally wrapped up Songhai's fall. Overland trade declined. Africans and European merchants preferred trading places other than dealing with Muslim traders. Slowly but surely, the Songhai Empire came to an end.
