Download - Economics in Africa
Salt, why salt?
• You need salt to live.
• We lose salt when we sweat.
• It’s hot in Africa.
• Therefore, they sweat and lose salt.
• Without it, they die.
Gold, Who needs that?
• In Africa, gold was pretty common.
• It is too soft to make weapons or tools out of.
• It is completely useless.
• So, why would they care?
The Salt Trade
• Africans were willing to trade 1 pound of gold for 1 pound of salt.
• Arabians were willing to trade 1 pound of salt for 1 pound of gold.
• Both sides were happy!
Timeout!
• Look at the map on the next page.
• One of the first major empires in Africa was Ghana in the shaded area.
• Why do you think it grew there and not somewhere else in Africa?
Ghana
• Ghana was a powerful trading empire in Africa.
• It’s location at the edge of the Sahara meant it controlled the best trade routes.
• The Niger River Valley was also relatively good for farming.
Koumbi
• Capital of Ghana
• Many Muslims came to live here to make money from gold.
• The emperor eventually has the city split in half to keep his people away from the Muslims.
The Split
• Splitting the city didn’t work.
• Based on the last picture, why do you think many Africans wanted to convert to Islam after the split of the city?
• The king of Ghana loses power as his people convert to Islam.
Mali
• The empire of Mali rose as Ghana was falling.
• They largely accepted Islam as their religion instead of trying to hold to their old ways.
• They did adapt it to fit their own traditions.
Arab Influences in Africa
• Arab merchants spread the Arab language into Africa.
• Along with the language the merchants spread Islam.
• Mansa Musa, an African ruler, went on a hajj in 1324.
Mansa Musa
• A strong follower of Islam
• Expanded the borders of Mali
• Led a pilgrimage of 60,000 people to Mecca.
• This made Mali famous throughout the world.