Ancient Africa
By: Logan Sparks / World History
Introduction:
The Land of Africa
Just south of the Sahara Desert the area splits into many major regions. In the west there is a point call the "Hump of Africa" which goes out into the Atlantic Ocean. At this point the Sahara becomes grasslands in the interior and then tropical jungles along the coast line.
The Climate Zones
Mansa Musa
Economy and Trade of Ghana
The people of Ghana had lived off the land for centuries. In addition, they prospered from their possession of iron and gold. Ghana's gold made it the center of an enormous trade. Much of the trade across the desert was carried by the Berbers, nomadic peoples whose camel caravans became known as the fleets of the desert. The trade in Ghana for gold and iron were so great that they did have to live on the land as much when trade became possible with the trade routes and other things that were innovated during that time.
The Kingdom of Songhai
In 1009, a ruler by the name of Kossi converted to Islam and established the Dia dynasty. This is the first Songhai state that was helped from the Muslim trade linking Arabia, North and West Africa. After Tures reign, Songhai became into a period of slow decline. At the end of the sixtieth century, the decline quickened when the forces of the sultan from Morocco controlled much of Songhai.