Author: Teacher

STANDARD WHI.10d) describing east African kingdoms of Axum and Zimbabwe and west African civilizations of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai in terms of geography, society, economy, and religion.
African civilizations developed in sub-Saharan west and east Africa.
Trade brought important economic, cultural, and religious influences to African civilizations from other parts of the Eastern Hemisphere.
States and empires flourished in Africa during the medieval period, including Ghana, Mali, and Songhai in west Africa, Axum in east Africa, and Zimbabwe in southeastern Africa.
Axum
• Location relative to the ______________ Highlands and the ______________ River
• ______________ kingdom
Zimbabwe
• Location relative to the ______________ and ______________ rivers and the Indian Ocean coast
• City of “______________ Zimbabwe” as capital of a prosperous empire
West African kingdoms
• Location of ______________, ______________, and ______________ empires relative to ______________ River and the Sahara
• Importance of ______________ and ______________ to trans-Saharan trade
• City of ______________ as center of trade and learning
• Roles of ______________ and ______________

Ghana, Mali, Songhai – West Africa
Salt and gold were the major trade items of West Africa. Salt, from central Saharan mines, was important for food, preserving meat, and health. In the forest areas there was not much salt. Therefore it made sense for the forest people in West Africa to trade gold for salt.
Ghana was the first major trading kingdom in West Africa. Ghana was located near the Niger River and the Sahara. The people of Ghana were animistic. Animism is the belief that spirits play a role in everything. Eventually invaders crushed it.
Mali was the next kingdom. It was located in the Upper Niger River Valley. It was run by the great kings Sundiata and Mansa Musa. They made the kingdom rich through trade. During Mansa Musa’s reign, traders brought Islam to Mali. Mansa Musa converted to Islam and made the pilgrimage to Mecca. This trip helped tie his people to the people of the Middle East and North Africa. Timbuktu became a city that reflected influence of Islam. It was a center of learning with libraries and universities. It was also a trading center. Mali fell similarly to Ghana.
Songhai, once a province in Mali, became the next kingdom. It also controlled trade routes and was wealthy from gold and salt. It had an army and expanded through the banks of the Niger River. They did not have very advanced weapons and fell to the Moroccan invaders.
Axum
Axum was located in the Ethiopian Highlands on the upper Nile. It was about 100 miles inland but still held ports on the Red Sea. It included most of modern Ethiopia. Axum traded as far away as India. Axum controlled much of the ivory trade from elephant tusks. Around 300 AD, Christianity came to Axum. King Ezana became a Christian and made it the official religion. For hundreds of years, Axum controlled all of the routes that connected Africa to Europe and Asia. Before long, Axum found itself between Muslims in West Africa and the Middle East. It lost control of many routes due to Muslim conquest. Still Ethiopia held onto Christian roots. Beautiful churches were carved out of solid stone.
Great Zimbabwe
A large amount of gold was mined between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. This region was controlled by the large African city of Great Zimbabwe. As with the others, this city grew rich through trade. Stone walls structures surrounded the wealthy homes. We are not sure why Zimbabwe fell. It could have been a change of trade routes or farming problems. Most of what we known is from those stone remnants.
What were the major trade items in West Africa?
What is animism?
What river is important to West Africa?
Who brought Islam to the West African societies?
What great Islamic city was built?
What are the 3 Civilizations that existed in West Africa?
What river is Axum found on?
What highlands did it sit in?
Who made Axum become Christian?
Is Axum still Christian?
What 2 Rivers are important to the Zimbabwe?
What was an important city in Zimbabwe?
Where do we get most of our information about Zimbabwe from?

What religion spread into the West Africa through traders?
What river was Axum near?
Which empire was a Christian kingdom?
What the Christian kingdom in eastern, western, or northern Africa?
Which empire was impacted the most by the Nile?
Which river was near the West African societies of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai?
What empire was with the Limpopo and Zambezi Rivers?
What trade route helped west African civilizations?
Why was Timbuktu important?
West African societies traded what 2 major items?
Which city was the center of trade and learning in West Africa?
Which African Kingdom adopted Christinity?

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