West Africa:
​Medieval W. African Kingdoms

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Geography

• Atlantic Ocean
• Niger River
  
• Djenne
  
• the Sahara
• Gulf of Guinea
  
• Timbuktu
  

Political Structure

• Growth of Kingdoms
  • ​Ghana
    
  • Mali
    
  • Songhair
    
  • Cities (centers of trade, culture, learning)
    
    • ​Djenne
      
    • Timbuktu

Economy- Trade

• role of the Trans-Saharan caravan trade
  
• changing religious / cultural characteristics of W. Africa
  
• exchange of salt, gold, and enslaved people. 

​Cultural Structures   
  
Important People

• importance of Malian King Mensa Musa
• His pilgrimage to Mecca