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Stories from HistoryThe Middle Ages Around the WorldD2.Geo.4.3-5

Kingdoms of Africa

Africa had rich kingdoms: Aksum in the east, Ghana and Mali in the west, where gold was traded for salt, and Great Zimbabwe in the south. Mansa Musa of Mali was one of the richest rulers who ever lived.

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In 1324, a king from West Africa set out to cross the Sahara on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Travelers said he brought thousands of people and camels carrying gold. When he stopped in Cairo, he gave away so much gold that its price fell there for years. He was Mansa Musa, ruler of Mali, and people still call him one of the richest people who ever lived.

Key idea

Africa was home to many great kingdoms. Aksum, in today's Ethiopia and Eritrea, traded across the Red Sea and became Christian in the 300s. Ghana and then Mali, in West Africa, grew rich from the trade of gold for salt across the Sahara. In southern Africa, the builders of Great Zimbabwe raised huge stone walls without mortar.
Some great kingdoms and cities of Africa.

Why trade gold for salt? In the south, near the gold fields, it was hot and people needed salt to stay healthy and to keep food from spoiling, but there was little salt there. In the Sahara there were great salt mines, but no gold. Camel caravans carried slabs of salt south and gold north.

Mali's city of Timbuktu became a center of learning, with scholars, mosques and libraries of handwritten books. Families there still keep thousands of old manuscripts on mathematics, astronomy, medicine and law.

People of the kingdom of Mali.
Kingdoms of Africa.

Worked example: Trade

A caravan leaves the Sahara heading south. What is it most likely carrying to trade?
  1. The Sahara had salt mines but no gold.
  2. The lands to the south had gold but little salt.

Answer: Salt, to trade for gold.

Common mistake

Thinking Africa had no great cities or kingdoms before Europeans arrived. Aksum, Mali, Great Zimbabwe and many others were rich and powerful long before.

Try it at home

  • Play a trading game: give one person "gold" (yellow paper squares) and another "salt" (white squares). Each needs some of the other's goods. Agree on a fair trade.
  • Find the Sahara, Mali and Ethiopia on a map or globe.
Going further. Africa's deserts, rivers and countries in Africa: Physical Features and Countries of West Africa. Africa's oldest kingdom is in Ancient Egypt for Young Explorers.

Practice

Pass with 3 right answers, the last 2 in a row. Each right answer earns 2 XP.

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Sources and further reading