13.3 Empires 13.3 Empires of West Africaof West Africa

pp. 362-364pp. 362-364

Objectives:Objectives:

1.1. Describe the West Describe the West African kingdoms of African kingdoms of Ghana and Mali.Ghana and Mali.

2.2. Describe how the law Describe how the law of supply and demand of supply and demand works.works.

A. Salt (p. 362)A. Salt (p. 362)

Raising crops in the Raising crops in the savanna was a savanna was a challenge.challenge.

One important One important product they could product they could not produce was salt.not produce was salt.

Salt kept food from Salt kept food from spoiling and helped spoiling and helped restore nutrients to restore nutrients to the body lost through the body lost through perspiration.perspiration.

B. Gold (p. 362)B. Gold (p. 362)

In parts of western In parts of western Africa, salt actually Africa, salt actually became worth its became worth its weight in gold.weight in gold.

Gold was another Gold was another important item in important item in West Africa.West Africa.

Trade routes grew Trade routes grew because of the need because of the need for salt and gold.for salt and gold.

C. Ghana (p. 363)C. Ghana (p. 363)

One early West One early West African empire, African empire, Ghana, was already Ghana, was already a major power in a major power in the region by the the region by the 700s.700s.

Muslim traders who Muslim traders who entered this region entered this region were impressed by were impressed by the enormous the enormous quantity of gold quantity of gold found there.found there.

D. Supply and Demand D. Supply and Demand (p.363)(p.363)

Ghana’s merchants Ghana’s merchants were allowed to handle were allowed to handle only gold dust.only gold dust.

Nuggets of gold were Nuggets of gold were kept by the king, who, kept by the king, who, by keeping gold scarce, by keeping gold scarce, followed an important followed an important rule of economics called rule of economics called supply and demandsupply and demand..

By keeping gold scarce, By keeping gold scarce, Ghana’s kings kept its Ghana’s kings kept its demand—and price—demand—and price—high.high.

E. Mali (p. 364)E. Mali (p. 364)

Ghana’s kings Ghana’s kings controlled controlled western Africa’s western Africa’s gold supply for gold supply for over 500 years.over 500 years.

The West African The West African empire that rose empire that rose to challenge to challenge Ghana’s Ghana’s dominance of the dominance of the region was Mali.region was Mali.

F. Sunjata (p. 364)F. Sunjata (p. 364)

According to legend, a According to legend, a Mali prince was spared Mali prince was spared being assassinated being assassinated because he was because he was disabled and seemed disabled and seemed harmless.harmless.

His name was Sunjata, His name was Sunjata, and sparing his life was and sparing his life was a mistake because he a mistake because he would go on to conquer would go on to conquer his old enemies and all his old enemies and all of Ghana as well.of Ghana as well.

He is generally regarded He is generally regarded as the founder of Mali.as the founder of Mali.

G. Timbuktu (p. 364)G. Timbuktu (p. 364) Like Ghana, Mali Like Ghana, Mali

grew rich by grew rich by controlling the gold controlling the gold trade.trade.

West African market West African market cities were cities were important centers in important centers in the gold commerce.the gold commerce.

One of those cities One of those cities was Timbuktu, was Timbuktu, which was located which was located at a crossroads of at a crossroads of major trade routes.major trade routes.

ReviewReview

1.1. For what two trade items For what two trade items were West African empires were West African empires famous?famous?

2.2. What two factors have the What two factors have the greatest impact on prices?greatest impact on prices?

3.3. What was the name of Mali’s What was the name of Mali’s most famous trading center?most famous trading center?