Kingdom of Aksum Located by the Red Sea = modern day Ethiopia - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Kingdom of Aksum Located by the Red Sea = modern day Ethiopia Took over many important areas and became an important center of trade

Trade in Aksum • Items traded: salt, rhinoceros horns, tortoise shells, ivory, emeralds, and gold • Imported cloth, glass, olive oil, wine, brass, iron and copper

Aksum Religion • Traditionally monotheistic • God called Mahrem and their king Ezana was a direct descendent of him. • Offered sacrifices- animals • King Ezana converted to Christianity • In 451 A.D., Ethiopia and Egypt with become Orthodox and split from Roman Catholic

Aksumite Architecture • Developed unique architecture using stone instead of mud bricks to build palaces and buildings • Used NO MORTAR • Instead they carved stones to fit together tightly • Built huge stone pillars called to celebrate king’s conquests

Fall of Aksum • Aksum lasted for 800 years • Fell to invaders who practiced Islam

Southeast Africa Zimbabwe • Zimbabwe- Near Zambezi and Limpopo rivers and Indian Ocean • Great Zimbabwe- capital of wealthy and prosperous empire

Ghana

• Ghana is the land of • This important gold trade of gold and • Two most important salt took place on trading goods: the trans-Saharan – 1. Gold trade – 2. Salt • The king was the • Gold came from the only one allowed to Savanna keep gold nuggets. • Salt deposits were This way he could found in the Sahara keep the price of Desert gold high.

Mali

Mali • Like Ghana, Mali became wealthy because of gold. • A man name Mansa Musa became leader of Mali. He was a devout Muslim. • Because of Mansa Musa, Mali grew to become twice the size of Ghana. • The city of Timbuktu became a center of trade and learning because Mansa Musa ordered mosques and universities to be built. • Timbuktu is the location of the House of Wisdom

Songhai

Songhai • After Mali declined, people broke away and formed a new civilization near the Niger river. • Two great rulers name: –1. Sunni Ali –2. Askia Muhammad

Songhai • Sunni Ali captured the city of Timbuktu. • Askia Muhammad was an excellent administrator. He set up an efficient tax system and chose able officials. • Later they were taken over by the Moroccans who were fighting with guns.