STATES AND EMPIRES OF WEST AFRICA

• Who was Mansa Musa, and why might he have had a problem with his portrayal in the first photo?

  • Mansa Musa was the ruler of Mali and controlled some of the richest goldfields during this era. 
  • He might have had a problem with his portrayal in this photo because he did not have a crown or sceptor to show his kingship, but that was because there were not West African symbols of kingship

  
• What were settlements of communities in the Sahel like?

  in Sahel settlement, communities were typically clustered around trade routes and water sources, consisting of mud-brick structures with central meeting areas for trade and socializing 
• What is the Sahelian state model? What is its significance?

  • The Sahelian state models revolved around 3 common elements between the communities 
  • domination of long-distance trade for the funds they needed to govern and survive
  • densely populated, wet, grain-producing centers 
  • religious diversity
  • The Sahelian states were significant in West African history for their role in trans-Saharan trade, wealth, and cultural exchange during the medieval period
• What is religious pluralism? How is it relevant to understanding west African communities?

  Religious pluralism refers to the coexistence of multiple religious beliefs and practices within a society. In West African communities, it's relevant because it illustrates the diverse religious landscape and tolerance among different groups
• What are some of the arguments for and against considering Mali an empire?

  • not very centralized, as the different regions wrre fairly independent 
• Explain how and why states in Africa developed and changed over time.

  states in Africa developed and changed over time due to various factors such as trade, migration, warfare, and the influence of external powers. This evolution was influenced by internal dynamics and interactions with neighboring societies
• What was unique about the states of West Africa in this period, and what features did they share with states in other regions?

  West African states in this period were characterized by centralized authority, sophisticated administrative systems, and thriving economies based on trade. They shared features such as bureaucratic structures and reliance on agriculture, trade, and tribute, similar to states in other regions
• How does your knowledge of West Africa support, extend, or challenge your understanding of the"state" when viewed through the filter of the governance theme?

  Understanding West Africa's governance dynamics enriches the understanding of the state by showcasing diverse forms of governance, such as decentralized systems like the Ashanti Confederacy or centralized kingdoms like the Mali Empire. It challenges simplistic notions of statehood and highlights the adaptability of governance structures to local context
• • Sahelian states relied on long-distance trade for governance and survival, controlling trade routes for commodities like gold, salt, and kola nuts
• • They had densely populated, wet, grain-producing centers but had limited control over nomadic herders in drier regions, often resorting to occasional tribute demands
• • Religious diversity was managed through inclusivity, with Islam being influential but rulers remaining inclusive of local, non-Muslim religions. Conversion to Islam was sometimes pragmatic for trade and literacy, but most rulers remained flexible and inclusive, maintaining matrilineal lineage traditions and allowing various religious practices
• • Trade Dominance:
  • Wagadu controlled gold trade
  • Hausa states and Kanem monopolized kola nut sales
  • Takrur controlled regional grain and salt trade
• • Resource Control
  • Access to grain and salt bolstered Takrur's economic advantage
• • Population Centers:
  • Reliance on densely populated, wet, grain-producing areas for economic stability
• • Nomadic Relations:
  • Limited control over nomadic herders
• • during the 12th century, ghana began to decline and lost its status as the biggest state in the region
  • surpassed by a state to the south (Susu) which gained control over most of the gold and kola nut trade
  • successful textile and iron industries 
• • new power was the state of mali led by mansa sunjata
• • sunjata defeated susu around 1240 and built mali 
• • mansa is a sultan, king, or emperor