The Empire of Ghana existed from 300-1267 CE in West Africa. It grew wealthy by controlling gold trade from the southern rainforests and salt trade from the northern Sahara desert. Ghana's capital, Koumbi Saleh, was located at a strategic crossroads of major trade routes, allowing the kingdom to tax caravans and expand its wealth and borders into an empire. Islamic beliefs from northern traders influenced Ghana's upper class and government, though traditional beliefs were also maintained, contributing to a blending of cultures through trade. However, attacks from the Muslim Almoravids eventually weakened Ghana's trade network and led to its decline.

1. The Empire of Ghana
Enduring Understandings:
►Natural Resources and geographic features
contribute to success in trade
►Trade results in the blending of cultural
traditions and belief systems

2. West Africa’s Empires
► What they have in common…
 Thrived due to their location – Niger River,
Natural Resources, and proximity to other
trading nations
 Strong leadership contributed to their success
 Influenced by Islam because of trade

3. Do Now
► On a scrap piece of
paper answer the
following question:
► How did geography
effect the location of
the empire of Ghana?
Ghana

4. The Foundation of the Empire
►
►
►
The empire of Ghana
existed between 300
-1267 CE
Became wealthy by
controlling the natural
resources available
and taxing traders
Ghana was primarily
located in the
savannah of Africa

5. Ghana’s Northern Border
► Northern
Ghana
bordered Sahara; ideal
hub for salt, gold trade
-served as trade
regulators of salt from
north, gold from south
- kept gold source
secret and limited
supply; increased
trade value

6. Ghana’s Southern Border
► Southern Ghana was border by the Niger
river and the rainforests.
► The Rainforests contained gold, the kings of
Ghana decided to hide the location of the
mines a secret in order to control the value
of the gold

7. Ghana’s Kings
► Ghana received it’s name from the people
who inhabited the land. “Ghana” is what the
people called their king.
► The kings were responsible for keeping
trade running smoothly and playing an
important role in the relgious life of the
people. Kings performed the proper prayers
and rituals to make the land fertile and to
bring prosperity to the people

8. Empire of Ghana

Ghana became wealthy for
several reasons:
 Koumbi Saleh (popl.15,000),
Ghana’s capital was located
at the crossroads of several
major trade routes.
 The king controlled the
secret of the gold mines,
therefore controlled the price
of gold
 The king taxed traders and
collected tributes from
conquered peoples

9. Kingdom to Empire
► Once the kindgom of Ghana became
wealthy, the king took the opportunity to
begining to expand it’s borders by
conquering lands surrounding the empire.
► By acquiring more lands the kingdom
became even more wealthy and as a result
grew even further resulting in an empire

10. Religious and Cultural Changes
►
Berbers, Islam, Arabic
greatly influenced empires
of West Africa
►
Berbers—North Africans
who developed trade
routes, raised camels
- spoke Arabic, practiced
Islam, worked with
Umayyads in African trade

11. Berbers
► Berbers
brought
writing (Arabic), Islam,
scholars to West Africa
- some Ghana kings
converted to Islam,
used Arabic in
government

12. Influence of Islamic Beliefs
►
Some Ghana kings
converted to Islam but
kept some traditional
beliefs in order to
keep the support of
their subjects
-belief that ancestry
gave king right to rule
was maintained

13. Influence of Islamic Beliefs
► Muslims gained power
in Ghana government,
advised kings
► Ghana 's upper class
accepted Islam,
learned Arabic, read
Qur'an
► Islamic ethics, or
beliefs, influenced the
law and culture in
Ghana

14. Ghana Under Attack
Despite Islam’s influence Ghana
declined
► Almoravids —North African
Muslims – a group made up of a
confederation of Berbers - who
came to power in 11th century
-Almoravids were camel herders
who envied Ghana 's wealth
-wanted Muslims to follow their
interpretation of Islam
► Almoravids attacked Ghana,
weakened trade network
► Ghana crumbled; Almoravids
seized capital in 1076
►
Almoravid Empire
Capital of Ghana

15. Review
How did natural Resources and geographic
features contribute to success in trade?
Trade results in the blending of cultural
traditions and belief systems?