1743 French Map of Northwest Africa, depicting the areas covered in this curriculum unit.
Courtesy of American Memory at the Library of Congress.
Subject Areas
Art and Culture
Anthropology
Architecture
History and Social Studies
World History - Africa
World History - Ancient World
World History - Asia/Far East
Time Required
Activity 1: 2 class periods (1 for lesson; 1 for assessment)
Activity 2: 2 class periods
Activity 3: 2 class periods
Activity 4: 2 class periods
Activity 5: 2 class periods
Activity 6: 2 class periods
Activity 7: 2 class periods
Activity 8: indeterminate
Skills
Map skills
Observation and description
Historical interpretation and analysis
Critical Thinking
Information gathering
Visual analysis
Communication
Trade has played an important role in the economy of West Africa since very early times. As early as 300 AD, camel caravans carried salt from mines in the Sahara Desert to trading centers along the Niger River in present-day Mali. Their mission was to exchange the salt for the gold that was mined in forests near the headwaters of the Niger. West Africa's first kingdom, Ghana, became wealthy and powerful because it controlled the trade routes and commercial activities in its region.
The spread of Islam across North Africa in the 7th century dramatically increased trans-Saharan trade. As the market expanded, strategically sited towns became major centers of commerce, welcoming merchants from distant lands.
Hop in the time capsule and travel back to ancient times. Look
around. You're in the Moroccan city of Sijilmasa, an important center of trade.
You are disguised as a Muslim merchant, the proud owner of eight camels. You're
about to join up with a trade caravan and begin the long trek south across the
Sahara Desert to West Africa.
Your task is to discover the answers to the following questions:
What were West Africa's main products of trade?
What were the major trade routes in this region?
How did the kingdom of Ghana become very wealthy?
What is Islam, and why did it spread across Africa?
How did Muslim merchants influence the development of trade in West Africa?
Your disguise will enable you to get a first-hand view of trading activities
in ancient West Africa. You'll use this information to make a detailed
report about ancient West Africa for the producers of Globe Trekkers. In your
report you'll need to:
List the major products and trade routes of ancient West Africa
Explain how the kingdom of Ghana became wealthy
Discuss the key concepts of Islam
Show how Islam spread from Arabia to Africa
Describe how Muslim merchants contributed to the expansion of West African trade
Before you set out on your journey, you might want to glance at some background
information about trade in ancient West Africa:
Hitch up your camels and get on your way. Make sure you've got
plenty of water. You'll need some long pieces of cloth to wrap around your head
as protection against the sun and wind. And bring along some warm clothing -
it's hot in the desert in the daytime, but it gets very cold at night. From
Sijilmasa, you head south. Your first stop will be the salt mines of Targhaza.
What are two ways of obtaining salt in the Sahara?
Now go to Salt-hauling
camel trains. Scroll down to "Biblical Scene." Who mined the salt in ancient
times?
Did you guess slaves? You're right. Many of those on the losing
side in tribal warfare ended up as slaves. They were sold at the markets, just
like any other product. Many of them ended up working in the salt mines—that
must have been everyone's worst nightmare!
Access On
the Edge of Timbuktu. Click on the video entitled Trek to the salt
mines of Taoudenni.
Take out your notebook
and jot down what you've learned so far
about salt. Don't forget to add your own insights.
2. Ghana Corners the Gold Market
The salt that was brought down from the Sahara was usually traded for gold. The
gold was mined in the forests of Guinea, near the source of the Niger, and carried
downstream to the markets along the Niger in dugout canoes. Many local merchants
became quite wealthy. Ghana, West Africa's first kingdom, depended upon income
from trade. It became so rich it was known as the Land of Gold.
Your caravan has made it to the edge of the Sahara and is setting
up camp at a trading site along the Niger River. All that salt you collected
in Targhaza is worth a great deal here in West Africa. In fact, it's worth its
weight in gold!
Access the Map
of salt and gold mines. These are the major salt mines (near Targhaza)
and the gold mines (in the regions of the upper Niger). Return to Trans-Saharan
Gold Trade. Locate the gold fields.
Go to Ghana
Empire. After reading the text, click on the map to enlarge it. What are some of the other products traded in Ghana? Jot them
down in your notepad!
How did the ruler of Ghana make a big profit?
Go to Mali: Geography
and History. Scroll down to History, then read paragraph 8 (beginning
“trade took place far from the gold mines…”)
Think about the “silent trade.” What might have been the reasons
for this unusual practice?
As king of the Land of Gold, Ghana's ruler made certain that he looked the
part.
Check out Ancient
Ghana. Scroll to the box entitled Royalty Gorgeously Attired.
Click on the audio and listen to a description of the king and his court as
recorded by an Arabic visitor.
3. Muslim Merchants Flock to Mali
The expansion of Islam across North Africa in the 7th century led to a great
increase in West African commercial activities, as Muslim merchants became actively
involved in the trans-Saharan trade routes.
You've finished bargaining with the gold traders. But before you
head back north, you decide to take some time to visit with a few of the other
Muslim merchants traveling in your caravan. But before you begin chatting, you'd
better find out a little bit about their religion, Islam, and how it spread
to Africa.
Access Islam. Define the words Islam and Muslim. Who was Muhammed? What is the Qur'an? What is a mosque? Where is Mecca, and what is its importance to Islam? Now go to The Birth of Islam. What does the word Qur'an mean? What are the teachings of the Qur'an? What is the Ka'ba? Who were the caliphs? In what direction did Islam first expand from Arabia?
Go to The Islamic Invasions. When did the Muslims enter North Africa? In what ways did Islam foster literacy in West Africa?
Go to Trans-Saharan Gold Trade. Read the first section: Gold Trade and the Kingdom of Ancient Ghana. Why did people in the north want the African gold?
Return to Ancient Ghana. Scroll down to the sections entitled Islam and Muslims in Africa. Did Islam coexist peacefully with local tribal religions? How do you think Muslims in other parts of the world might have thought about this? Could there have been pressure for the African rulers to convert?
Location Scouting Summary: Trading Places
You are in a market in ancient Ghana, surrounded by merchants,
local inhabitants, and snorting camels.This is a fascinating
place—something viewers back home really need to learn about! How can you convey
a sense the excitement—the sounds, smells, and images of ancient Ghana—to the
producers of Globe Trekkers? Take out your notebook
, and write the stage directions
for a reality show to be taped at this setting.
Golden
Age
[http://www.historychannel.com/classroom/unesco/timbuktu/goldenage.html]
Map
of Africa:
[http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/index.html?id=362&size=medium&left
=-39&bottom=-34.6&right=72.8&top=38.2&point=x16.9,x1.8&text=Africa]
Map of Africa:
[http://www.library.northwestern.edu/africana/map/]
Map of
Africa
[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/africa_ref02.jpg]
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