1. Aksum Location: East Africa Present day: Ethiopia & Eritrea Created when traders began settling along the western coast of the Red Sea. Controlled trade on the Red Sea From Mediterranean to the India. (important trade routes!) Ideas as well as goods traded 300 AD became a center for Early Christianity in Africa. Declined in the 600s Arabs took control of the trade routes. Location, Location, Location!

2. Aksum trade routes 3. Western African Kingdoms As Aksum declined, great kingdoms arose on the other side of the continent, in West Africa. The power of these kingdoms was based on the trade of salt and gold. West Africa= No Salt, but lots of gold North Africa= Salt, but no gold. 4. Ghana Between Senegal & Niger River Controlled much of the trade routes across West Africa. Taxed salt, gold, and other goods. Nickname--land of gold Lost the important trade routes to the kingdom of Mali. 5. Mali where the kings live Took control of trade routes from Ghana. Upper Niger Valley West Africa. Controlled gold mines of the south and salt supplies to north. Mansa Musa emperor brought peace and order. 6. Mansa Musa Mali's most famous king.Brought peace and order to the kingdom.Based his laws on the QuranMusa and his traders helped spread Islam across Africa. In 1324, Musa made a pilgrimage to Mecca. He brought with him: 80 camels 60,000 people Each camel had 300lbs of gold!Importance of pilgrimage New trading routes/relationshipsDisplayed Mali's wealth (Europe's rules became $greedy$ 7. Mana Musa's Pilgrimage 8. Songhai After Musa's death Songhai came to power in W. Africa. Controlled important trade routes. Timbuktu- important caravan stop along the Niger. Invaders from N. Africa defeated Songhai in 1591. 9. Tombouctou The wealthiest trading city in Western Africa.Salt comes from the north, gold from the south, and silvers from the city of white men. Also, a great Muslim But the word of God and learning center. treasures of wisdom are only to be found in Tombouctou. 10. Timbuktu (Tombouctou)