Determine which phrases relate to the kingdoms of Mall, Songhai, or both

founded by

Muhammad

Askia

conquered by

Moroccans

founded by

the leader

Sundiata

took advantage

of the gold-salt

trade

rose to power

after the decline

of Ghana

Mali

Songhai

Mali:

Rose to power after the decline of Ghana

founded by the leader Sundiata

Both:

took advantage of the gold-salt trade

Songhai:

founded by Muhammad Askia

conquered by the Moroccans

For hundreds of years, trade crisscrossed West Africa. For most of that time, West Africans did

not profit much from the Saharan trade because the routes were run by berbers, a group of

people from northern Africa. Eventually, that situation changed. A succession of three great

kingdoms came to power as their people, gained control of valuable trade routes in West Africa.

Ghanawas the first of these empires, followed by the kingdoms of Maliand Songhai.

Kingdom of Ghana

Historians think the first people in Ghana were farmers along the Niger River. Sometime after

AD 300 these farmers, the Soninké, were threatened by nomadic herders. The herders wanted

to take the farmers' water and pastures. For protection groups of Soninke families began to

band together. This banding together was the beginning of Ghana.

Ghana was in an ideal position to become a trading center. To the north lay the vast Sahara, the

source of much of the salt. Ghana itself was rich in gold. People wanted gold for its beauty, but

they needed salt in their diets to survive. Salt, which could be used to preserve food, also made

bland food tasty. These qualities made salt very valuable. In fact, Africans sometimes cut up

slabs of salt and used the pieces as money. As trade in gold and salt increased, Ghana's rulers

gained power. Eventually, they built up armies equipped with iron weapons that were superior to

the weapons of nearby people. Over time, Ghana took control of trade from merchants.

Merchants from the north and south then met to exchange goods in Ghana. By 800 Ghana was

firmly in control of West Africa's trade routes. Nearly all trade between northern and southern

Africa passed through Ghana. With so many trespassing through their lands, Ghana's rulers

looked for ways to make money from them. One way they raised money was by forcing traders

to pay taxes. Every trader who entered Ghana had to pay a special tax on the goods he carried.

Then he had to pay another tax on any goods he took with him when he left. Ghana's rulers

gained incredible wealth from trade, taxes on traders and on the people of Ghana, and their own

personal stores of gold. They used their wealth to build an army and an empire.

Islam in Ghana

Extensive trade routes brought the people of Ghana into contact with people of many different

cultures and beliefs. As the kingdom of Ghana extended into the Sahara, increased contact with