STANDARD US1.4b,c   Interactions with American Indians
Ghana, Mali and Songhai

The student will demonstrate knowledge of European exploration in North America and West Africa by
c) identifying the location and describing the characteristics of West African societies (Ghana, Mali, and Songhai) and their interactions with traders.

STANDARD US1.4c
Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

What was the importance of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai?
• Each dominated West Africa in turn from 300 to l600 A.D.

• Ghana, Mali, and Songhai became powerful by controlling trade in West Africa.

How did West African empires impact European trade?
• African people and African goods played an important role in arousing European interest in world resources.

• The Portuguese carried goods from Europe to West African empires, trading metals, cloth, and other manufactured goods for gold.