Kingdoms & Trading States

of Medieval Africa

Early Societies in

West Africa 500-1600 CE

Table of Contents

• Background

• Africa’s Four Climate

Zones

• Africa’s Four

Vegetation Zones

• Africa’s Vegetation

Map

• Early Trade Routes

• Muslim Trade Routes

• The Sahara Desert

• The Sahal Desert

• The Savannah

• The Woodland Forest

• Communities &

Villages

• The Nok People

• Development of

Towns & Cities

• Jenne-jeno

• The Rise of

Kingdoms & Empires

• End of Presentation

Background

• Civilization began in West Africa thousands of years

ago. Written records are non existent during the time

period 500-1600 CE. Muslim scholars began writing

about the Kingdom of Ghana around 800 CE. By then

Ghana was more than 300 years old.

• To determine how these civilizations came to be, scholars

studied geography, natural features, vegetation, ancient

settlements, and artifacts.

• By studying these clues scholars understand how the

kingdoms came to be, why they developed where they

did, what kind of life the settlers had, and what they did

to grow and harvest their food.

• African civilization was shaped by Africa’s Four Climate

and Four Vegetation Zones.

Africa’s Four Climate Zones

• Africa is the second

largest continent on

earth following Asia.

• Africa can be divided into

four climate zones:

• West Africa

• North Africa

• Central & South Africa

• East Africa

Africa’s Four Vegetation Zones

• Africa can also be divided into four vegetation zones that

are important because of the affect on life in each zone.

They include:

• A desert, is sandy, hot and dry.

• A semi-desert, is less dry and supports grasses and shrubs.

• A savannah, consists of tall grasses and trees.

• A forest, has an abundance of vegetation.

Africa’s Vegetation Map

Early Trade Routes

• Three Medieval Kingdoms developed in Africa between

500 and 1600 CE: Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.

• For centuries African civilizations had limited contact

with civilizations to the north because travel across the

Sahara Desert was almost impossible.

Muslim Trade Routes

• By 700 CE, Arab Muslim

traders from North

Africa began to cross the

Sahara in increasing

numbers and created

trade routes.

• These trade routes

played an important role

in the growth of the

region

• Trade also brought the

Muslim religion, Islam

to the region. Islam had

a deep impact on West

African culture.

The Sahara Desert

• Geography determines

where people live and

patterns of trade.

• The Sahara Desert is 3.5

million square miles. It is

very dry; therefore, not

suitable for large

settlements.

The Sahal Desert

• The Sahal, south of the

Sahara is a semi desert,

not as dry and produces

short grass, bushes & some

trees.

• In the south the Sahal

merges into the Savannah,

an area of tall grasses and

scattered trees.

The Savannah

• With a long rainy season,

the Savannah produces

a variety of crops for

human consumption and

food for feeding animals.

• Rivers such as the Niger

help fertilize the ground.

The Woodland Forest

• Woodland forests and

rainforests are great

places to support life.

• Trade was stimulated by

the different produce of

each region and rivers

provided the routes for

trade.

Communities & Villages

• Early settlements, made up of extended families, appeared

around 4000 BCE south of the Sahara. The communities

were 15 to 20 members and were self sufficient and

traded for additional goods with other such communities.

• As families joined together they formed villages with 100

to 200 people. The leaders were selected for their wisdom.

• Villages were formed to get help from other sources and

for protection.

The Nok People

• Villages grew into towns due to

ironworking and trade. By 500

BC, the Nok people lived near

present day Nigeria.

• They were making tools from iron

using smelting furnaces.

• As ironworking spread, it brought

major changes in farming. They

now had tools to clear land and

raise more.

Development of

Towns & Cities

• The greater abundance of food supported larger villages

allowing others to work at other trades. Surplus food was

then available to trade with other villages.

• Villages then grew up along the river trade routes. These

villages became market centers and grew richer by

charging for trading services. These villages grew into

sizable towns.

Jenne-jeno

• Jenne-jeno was a thriving city of about 20,000 people

built in the 3rd century that existed for more that 1600

years. It was discovered in 1977.

• It was ideally located for farming fishing and trade. The

citizens traded their surplus crops for iron & copper,

many miles away.

• The people lived in circular houses made of bent poles.

woven mats, and mud blocks. The people farmed and

had many tradesmen, most of whom were blacksmiths.

• Blacksmiths were revered for their ability to craft tools

made from iron. They held prominent positions and some

were charged with predicting the future.

The Rise of

Kingdoms & Empires

• Trade drove the early kingdoms of Ghana, Mali and

Songhai. Rulers raised money by taxing the goods

traded. The revenue raise allowed them to raise armies

and conquer other trading areas.

• Conquered people paid tribute in recognition of the new

rulers protection.

• Rulers were both political and religious leaders. They

were believed to have special powers given to them by

the gods.

• As kingdoms conquered more areas they created

empires. Empires worked by providing protection, safety

on trade routes, and keeping raiders at bay. Wars

between small tribes ended.

End of Presentation