Africa Research Paper

Did you ever think about what Africa was like before your time? Did it ever cross your mind how they lived without the same things we have today?Have you ever decided to pick up your history textbook and read about Africa. Africa is known to be a “tropical” continent. Furthermore, it would talk about the three different kingdoms in Africa before the 1500 ce. It would also be talking about trade,Timbuktu,and societies in East and South Africa. Moreover, there were many goods traded in Africa.One main good that was traded was gold. The mining of gold was supported in West Africa. Powerful empires such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai generally ruled gold production and trade. Some other goods that were traded was cowry shells, cloth, beads, iron,

It was the third trading state in West Africa. Songhai took the place of Mali and built an even larger nation. Songhai was the largest trading state out of both Ghana and Mali. Kossi was the ruler that established Songhai in the year 1009. The Dia dynasty was created when he converted to Islam. In the year of 1464 Songhai started to expanded. This was under the leadership of Sunni Ali. Ali created the Sunni dynasty and had control over the trade of gold and salt. Those were the two things that made Ghana and Mali recognized in Africa’s history. Ali also had control over the military and the government of Songhai. During the reign of Muhammad True Songhai reached its high point in power. Sunni Ali expansion policy was continued after True took power over the empire in 1493. Threw all of that he created a new dynasty. This dynasty was called the Askia dynasty. This had a meaning to it and the meaning of Askia was “usurper”. Like Mali they split Songhai into provinces and appointed a governor for each one. The salt and gold trade is what expanded even more in the empire. True made sure that the peace, security, and stability of Songhai was good. After, Mommad True, Askia Dawud made Songhai the largest stable kingdom in Africa’s history. In the year of 1591 the Moroccans raided Taghaza’s salt mine. This battle was called “ Battle of Tondibi” Later, danger came to the security , poverty, and wealth. Distress and violence then came

The universites was created in Timbuktu to promote learning. He also built Mosques and libraries there. Located at the edge of Sahara desert. It is now known as present day Republic of Mali. Mansa Musa the richest king of Mali was motivated to make Timbuktu something great. He wanted Timbuktu it to be a center of Islamic learning and culture. “ This city attracted religious leaders, scholars, and artist from all over the word. They came to study music, religion, math, law,and lastly literature. When Mali empire fell the Songhai empire took control over Timbuktu. Timbuktu helped Songhai get control over different types of trade. Salt came in from the North and gold came in from the South. Death arose to so many scholars when the libraries of Timbuktu was burned by the Moroccans. “Timbuktu properserd both intellectually and trade wise until 1591 when the Moroccan army sacked the city. They were under the leadership of Pasha Mahmud Ibn Zarquan.””It is a place where many, many things happened since the 12th Century. A place of knowledge ….. A place that tells us a lot about how great the African people were and continue to be. We need to save Timbuktu.” According to the head of mission rebuild Timbuktu they felt like that place had a big impact in the society of Africa which it did. Timbuktu was another big part of the African