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Banding together was the beginning of Ghana. The people of Ghana gradually grew in strength because they learned to use iron and they made iron tools for farming and this help for the food which can make people live there because of all the food they have.
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Ghana was in control of the West Africa's trade routes. Nearly all trade between northern and southern Africa passed thought Ghana. Ghana army kept the trade routes safe and help Ghana's wealth increased and there trade.
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The people of a country that Ghana had conquered rose up in rebellion. Within a few years these rebels had taken over the entire empire of Ghana but the rebels found that they could not keep in order, so which meant that Ghana was attacked and defeated by one of it neighbors.
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When Sundiata was younger, another menacing ruler conquered Mali, he was a bad ruler but Sundiata built up an army and he won back his country's independence. He took over and some of Ghana in the 1230s.
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Mansa Musa was Mali's famous ruler. Mali reached the heights of its wealth, power, and fame in the 1300s. Musa introduced his empire to the Islamic world and spread Mali's fame. He ruled Mali for 25 years. Mali added many important trade cities to its empire.Mali added many important trade cities to its empire, including Timbuktu.
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Mansa Musa conquered the Songhai and adding their lands to his empire. But as Mali weakened in the 1400s, the people of Songhai rebelled and regained their freedom. As the Songhai gained in wealth, they expanded their territory and built an empire.
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He become the ruler of Songhai when he was nearly 50 years old and ruled for 35 years. He reign the cities of Songhai gained power over the countryside. Askia was blind and his son took over after he die in the capital. His tomb is honored places in all West Africa
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When Mansa Musa died and his son Maghan took over but he was a weak ruler. When raiders from the southeast poured into Mali and he wasn't able to stop them. Raiders set fire to Timbuktu great schools and mosques. Mail never fully recovered from it. By 1500 nearly all the land that was once ruled by the empire were now lost.
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A northern rival of Songhai, Morocco wanted to gain control of Songhai's salt mines. Moroccan army set out to battle Songhai in 1591. Their weapons overpowered Songhai's army and change in trade patterns completed Songhai's fall. Overland trade declined as port cities on the Atlantic coast became more important and slowly the period of great West African empires came to an end.
