Ghana, Mali and Songhai: Enduring Understandings
- The Sahara Desert wasn’t a huge barrier between North Africa and West Africa
- In this era, much of Africa was part of wider economic and cultural currents and thus not isolated.
- These kingdoms were among the wealthiest in the world in their time.
- West Africans and Europeans traded with each other and considered each other equal.
- The West African Sahel was part of wider Mediterranean and Islamic worlds.
- Islam facilitated trade and learning in the West African Sahel.
- Ancient movement and exchange between people were NOT only about gold and salt
- Gold was a central resource
- Much of medieval Europe’s gold and wealth was extracted from West Africa and traded across the Sahara
- The Mali and Songhai kingdoms had epic literature which has been passed down to today.
- Primary sources exist in translation and are effective teaching tools. Among them are:
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- Written records of Muslim visitors to the region
- Epic literature