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Songhai was a politically impacted empire with several leaders. Rulers like Muhammad Ture led Songhai into conquering several areas, Sahara, Mali, and West Africa around 1506. Due to several weak rulers like Asia Muhammad III, Muhammad Bani, and Issihak II, the Songhai Empire was quickly attacked by Moroccan forces. With strong leaders like Muhammad Ture, Songhai grew, but eventually fell to a series of weak rulers (Ghana, Mali, Songhai). Songhai was also one of the strongest empires through interaction. Muhammad True expanded Songhai's power in 1497 by establishing diplomatic relations with Morocco and Egypt. Then by 1528, Muhammad had shaped Timbuktu into a popular center of learning, attracting African, Arab, and European scholars. Songhai was able to become one of the last and greatest empires of the three West African merchant empires (Ghana, Mali, Songhai). Economically, Songhai had strong trading relations with different regions. Songhai was located in the trading city of Goa, and was able to easily acquire salt and gold. Muhammad True also secured trading relationship with Arab and the European world. Songhai became not only abundant with resources, but also became a stable empire (Ghana, Mali, Songhai).

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All three empires had trading relations with a vast number of regions. Songhai, thanks to Muhammad Ture, was able to secure trading relations. Songahi actively traded with both the Arab and European world. Songhai was able to acquire gold and salt through this trade around 1506 (Ghana, Mali, Songhai). Ghana was located at the western end of Africa which was an advantage for trading. By 1000 Ghana was wealthy, controlling most important trading cities. Ghana also controlled trade routes from gold mines, allowing easy access to gold, their main trading item(Ghana, Mali, Songhai). Mali, after securing tis hold on Ghana, began to expand its territory and trading access. Around the 14th century, Mali reached from the Atlantic West to Timbuktu and Tao in the east. Mali controlled gold trad ei note region and continued to expand trade of enslaved people (Ghana, Mali, Songhai). Aksum also had control over most trade routes. Aksum was located next to the caravan routes to Arabia, Nubia, and Egypt. This allowed Aksum to trade as far as Greece, Rome, and Constantinople. By the 6th century CE.

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One significant variable that contributed to to Ghana's political peak was their development and growth of agriculture. The geography of West Africa provide ideal conditions for planting and cultivating grains. The multiple water sources from rivers such as the Niger, Gambia, and Senegal provide plenty of water to nourish the growing crops and grains. The variety of temperature and climate in West Africa allowed the people of Ghana to grow numerous agriculture and grains which fueled the beginning of a dominant empire. The successful growth of crops in Ghana allows for viable trade within neighboring regions. Items traded included forest products and gold, traded form southern regions, and finished good and salt, from the northern areas. The usage of trade was another significant variable to the prominent Ghana Empire. One event that led to the downfall if the Ghana Empire, was the Muslim control and rule over Ghana. While Ghana seized to regain power, from Muslim control, the Muslim rule was too powerful This lack of independence caused Ghana's government to corrupt, as they began to spend their resources invaluably. The combination of Muslim rule and lack of control immediately led to the downfall of Ghana, a powerful, strong Empire that made a lasting impact on West African Empires.

(Activity #4)

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Economics was am important part of Mali because of Mansa Musa's reign. He is known as the richest African king and had so much gold that he caused the value of gold in Egypt to do down just because he was buying things and donating money. Mali had trade with Egypt, China, South Africa, and France. The amount t of trade and money the Mali empire had burst them to fame and more people came so the empire simply got richer and richer. Interaction was also a big part of Malian life because of the rich land and mines. When a leader named Sundiata came to power in 1230 he established Niani as the capital city because of the fine farmlands and iron deposits nearby. Soon, Mali took over the land that was once controlled by Ghana and made the gold mines their own. On top of the gold mines, Mali mined the salt, diamonds, and copper that their land gave them. Fish prospered and with the healthy land, cattle were raised.

Malian culture shaped the way their people lived. For example, Mali preferred to use oral history rather than written history. This was so it couldn't be destroyed or lost. Griots were people trained to remember and recite all of Malian history through song, poetry, and stories. Islamization was on the rise during this time. The people of Mali had formerly practiced the polytheistic religions of their ancestors so this was a big change for some. Kings in Mali would blend the two religions to make the change easier on some. What further helped to convert people was when Mansa Musa took his pilgrimage on Hajj.

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In the kingdom of Aksum, trade was a very important aspect of the Aksumites; daily life. During the first two centuries, the Aksumites traded with Greek and Egyptian merchants. The Greek and Egyptians were the Aksumites source of ebony, ivory, and exotic animals (sub-Saharan item). The Aksumites were very dedicated to trading for goods they wouldn't typically acquire. The Aksumites were an extremely powerful force when it came to war. The Aksumites have taken on many tribes, and won. The proudest political accomplishment of the aksumites is that the Aksumites conquered Kush. The Aksumites also conquered multiple Jewish kingdoms found in Arabia. Many kingdoms were conquered by Aksumites, making Aksum a very powerful force during war. The official religion of Aksum was Christianity ever since Ezena’s reign. Ezena was the emperor of Aksum who was the main reason why Aksum's religion was Christianity, because Ezena gave credit to the Christian God after the very valued accomplishment of conquering Kush. So, Ezena is the cause of Christianity being Aksum's official religion because f Ezena's announcement that the Christian god was the one who was responsible for the valued accomplishment of conquering Kush. (Activity #7)