Africas Rich History
Africas Rich History
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
Why is it important to learn about Africa’s historic kingdoms and vibrant trade?
OBJECTIVES
Students will:
→ Explore the emergence and history of West African kingdoms and trade.
→ Analyze the meaning of a West African fable and the significance of that region’s
oral tradition.
→ Interpret a primary source to learn about the influence of the Kingdom of Mali.
→ Annotate a text on the history of the Ghana and Mali kingdoms.
→ Create an original salt craft rendering depicting key features of an African kingdom.
LEARNING STANDARDS
See the standards alignment chart to learn how this lesson supports New Jersey
State Standards.
TIME NEEDED
125 minutes
MATERIALS
→ AV equipment to project an image
→ Map of Early African Civilizations (one to project)
→ Mansa Musa: Tenth Emperor of the Mali Empire handout
(one to project or copies for small groups)
→ The Ghana Kingdom (one per student)
→ The Mali Kingdom (one per student)
→ Materials for art project: salt or sand, glue, construction paper, watercolor paint
or food coloring, paint brushes, paper plates and cups, colored pencils or crayons
VOCABULARY
civilization Ghana Mansa Musa
empire kingdom Sahara Desert
griot/griotte Mali stereotype
4
Procedures
PART 1
Sizing Up Africa (15 mins.)
Write the following brainteaser on the board: “Which
1 continent has the most countries?” Allow students to
discuss in pairs and then have the class take a vote.
Share that Africa has the most—54 countries. (Asia has
47, Europe 43, North America 23, Australia and Oceania
14, South America 12 and Antarctica 0.)
PART 2
West Africa’s Oral Tradition (30 mins.)
Write griot/griotte on the board (these are the masculine
5 and feminine forms of the term). Explain that griots/griottes
are storytellers and counselors in West African culture,
and the keepers of important facts and events. They have
passed down histories and cultural values for over 2,000
years through oral traditions including folktales, songs
and proverbs.
6
PART 3
The Richest Man of All Time (20 mins.)
Refer back to the Map of Early African Civilizations and
8 point out Mali. Tell students that Mali was one of the NOTE
most powerful African kingdoms in history and its most
The image source is:
famous emperor was Mansa Musa. Project or distribute Abraham Cresques, Detail
the handout Mansa Musa: Tenth Emperor of the Mali Empire. from the Catalan Atlas Sheet
In small groups, have students analyze the image by 6 showing Mansa Musa, 1375,
noting their responses to the following questions: pen with colored inks on
parchment, Catalan Atlas,
→ What kind of document do you think this might be?
http://bit.ly/38H4BSw.
Who might have created it?
8
Discussion Questions
Had you heard about the kingdoms of Ghana and Mali
1 before? Why do you think most people know little about
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
African civilizations in history?
+ Exploring Africa, “Curriculum,”
Are you surprised by how wealthy, complex and powerful http://exploringafrica.matrix.
2 these civilizations were? Why? msu.edu/curriculum.
SOURCE: Cartwright, Mark. Map of Ancient & Medieval Sub-Saharan African States. Ancient History Encyclopedia. April 12, 2019. Accessed January 12, 2021.
https://www.ancient.eu/image/10453/map-of-ancient--medieval-sub-saharan-african-state.
10
HANDOUT
Observe the image closely and record notes in response to the following questions:
1. What kind of document do you think this might be? Who might have created it?
2. How is Mansa Musa represented in the image? What does this say about his role?
3. What items are shown in the image? What do you think are their importance?
4. What places are shown? What do you think they might represent?
Ghana was West Africa’s first powerful empire. The success of Ghana allowed its rulers to build
It was located further north than today’s nation power. They used iron to make weapons and
of Ghana. Modern Ghana took its name in honor commanded a large army. Arab visitors wrote of a
of ancient Ghana. force of 200,000 soldiers, including 40,000 archers.
This may have been an exaggeration, but it shows
Ghana was known as the “land of gold.” Ghanaians
that Ghana’s military was impressive. Even though
(the people of Ghana) invented ways to mine gold.
Ghana was powerful, the kingdom began to weaken
They controlled three major gold fields. The king-
in the 11th century CE. This happened after attacks
dom became wealthy by trading gold throughout
by enemies, many wars and competition over trade
Africa. The kings of Ghana controlled the gold that
routes. The climate also became drier over time and
was unearthed, and were called “lords of the gold.”
this damaged crops.
Visitors from Arab countries wrote about expensive
gifts given by these kings to their neighbors and The Ghanaians did not have a writing system,
trading partners. so there is much we don’t know about this great
empire. However, archaeologists are still learning
Ghanaians traded gold for salt from the Sahara
from a site they uncovered, called Koumbi Saleh. This
Desert region. They needed salt for its nutrients
ancient town may have been the capital of Ghana
and to preserve food. Other goods that were traded
and home to more than 40,000 people. It contained
included copper, ivory, textiles and leather, herbs
stone houses, mosques and a palace complex.
and spices and foods such as fish, rice, honey and
It also had a network of wells that provided water
kola nuts. These societies also traded enslaved
for drinking and irrigating crops. The remains at
people. The use of horses and camels at this time
Koumbi Saleh prove that Ghana was one of the
helped trade to grow.
most complex and powerful civilizations of its time.
SOURCES:
Exploring Africa, “History of Africa During the Time of the Great West African Kingdoms,” http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/activity-3-history-of-afri-
ca-during-the-time-of-the-great-west-african-kingdoms-expand.
Khan Academy, “The Ghana Empire,” https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/big-history-project/agriculture-civilization/first-cities-states/a/the-gha-
na-empire-1.
National Museum of African Art, “Mali Empire and Djenne Figures,” https://africa.si.edu/exhibits/resources/mali/index.htm.
12
HANDOUT
Mali’s most famous king was Mansa Musa. In Mali, cultural life was important. Artists produced
He extended the power of Mali and doubled its pottery and sculpture. Dancers and musicians
territory. Mansa Musa taxed all goods that passed performed at religious festivals. Songs were written
through his kingdom. He also bought goods at low to honor important people, including warriors and
prices and sold them at great profits. This helped hunters. The king even kept a royal orchestra.
to make him and the kingdom very rich. Visitors to Mali commented on its justice system,
During this time, the religion of Islam was spreading. safety and great amounts of food. Like most great
Mansa Musa made a pilgrimage (journey) to Mecca, empires, however, the Kingdom of Mali eventually
an important Islamic city in Saudi Arabia. He brought began to collapse in the 1400s CE. It was weakened
tens of thousands of people with him and as many by civil wars, competition over trade and attacks
as 100 camels, each carrying 300 pounds of gold. by rivals, such as the Songhai Kingdom. By the
Mansa Musa gave away great gifts and impressed mid-1600s CE, Mali was no longer an important
the people he met. This increased Mali’s power. power in Africa.
SOURCES:
Ancient History Encyclopedia, ”Mali Empire,” https://www.ancient.eu/Mali_Empire.
Exploring Africa, “History of Africa During the Time of the Great West African Kingdoms,” http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/activity-3-history-of-afri-
ca-during-the-time-of-the-great-west-african-kingdoms-expand.
“Mali: Ancient Crossroads of Africa,” © by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission.