Ghana, Mali, and Songhai Kingdoms
Learning Objective
I can describe the key contributions of the West African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
Key Concepts
The Ghana Empire, located near modern-day Northern Senegal and Southern Mauritania, dominated trade in Africa due to rich goldfields and access to the trans-Saharan trade route.
The Ghana Empire was ruled through a feudal system where the gaina exacted tributes from lesser groups and received import/export taxes in the form of the product being traded.
The decline of the Ghana Empire was caused by a combination of factors, including climate change leading to drought, new gold mines opening further east, and the rise of the Almoravids and the Mali Empire.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 9 practice questions to reinforce learning.
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1. What was the title of the ruler of the Ghana Empire, according to Arab visitors?
2. Name two commodities that the Ghana Empire traded.
3. What was the name of the capital city of the Ghana Empire?
...and 6 more questions
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The Rise and Fall of the Ghana Empire
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