UNIT 1: From West Africa to Early AmericaAncient times- 1763 AD

Notes 1 of 3Relationship between Africa and the Americas

• ________________________________ become the center of trade in human beings.

• Knowing the history of West Africa is important for understanding the people who became the first ______________________________.

• Like Africa as a whole, West Africa is ________________________________________ diverse.

Africa: 6000 BC- 1600 AD

• Africa is home to many ancient _______________________.

• Large and geographically diverse continent

• _____________________________________________.

• Believed to be the _________________________ of humanity

• __________________________ – one of the earliest civilizations in world history

Geography of West Africa

• Much of West Africa south of the Sahara Desert falls within the ____________________ that spans the continent from _____________________________.

• __________________________________ of the Savanna are extensive forests.

• The environments were home to a variety of ____________________________

• Types of settlements in the region __________________________________________________

• West Africans began ___________________________________ between 1000 BCE and 200 CE.

• By 500 BCE some West Africans were producing ____________________________________.

Early Trade

• Trade in this region resulted in:

• Becoming the basis for the three great Western _______________________

Goods traded: ______________________________________________________________________

Drew __________________________________ into the region.

Early Civilizations: Ghana (c. 350- c. 1200 AD)

• Became a rich by __________________________ who traveled through their land.

• _______________________________ were important and desirable items

• Eventually Ghana’s rulers ________________________________ and learned Arabic

• After _________________ conquered Ghana it never __________________________________.

Early Civilizations: Mali (1230- 1468 AD)

• Mali’s wealth was built on ________________________________.

• Mali’s rulers became Muslims and built __________________________.

• Under the rule of ________________________, Mali was divided into provinces and appointed governors.

• Within 50 years of Mansa Musa, Mali’s _______________________ shifted east and his successors were unable to govern the empire effectively.

Early Civilizations: Songhay (1464- 1591 AD)

• Had two great Muslim leaders: __________________________________________

• Created an empire through ____________________________________________________.

• Songhay lacked ________________________________

• Defeated by _________________________________

Key Concepts:

• In general, men ________________________________ women in West Africa.

• ________________________________ was a part of the social structure since ancient times.

• Religion: __________________________________or Indigenous (Local Beliefs)

• Art and Music: Connected to ________________________________________

• Literature: ______________________________ passed from generation to generation.