Table of Contents
- 1 Which two trade items helped the Songhai kingdom flourish?
- 2 How did trade help to develop ancient western African societies?
- 3 What factors helped the trade flourish in West Africa?
- 4 How did kingdoms in West Africa deal with the slave trade?
- 5 How did trade influence the course of history in West Africa?
- 6 Why was the Mali kingdom able to establish its influence?
Which two trade items helped the Songhai kingdom flourish?
When Mossi raids destroyed the Mali empire, the rising Songhai empire relied on the same resources. Gold remained the principal product in the trans-Saharan trade, followed by kola nuts and slaves.
How did trade help to develop ancient western African societies?
The gold mines of West Africa provided great wealth to West African Empires such as Ghana and Mali. Other items that were commonly traded included ivory, kola nuts, cloth, slaves, metal goods, and beads. As trade developed across Africa, major cities developed as centers for trade.
What factors helped the trade flourish in West Africa?
What factors helped the trade system flourish in West Africa? Gold, positioning of the major cities provided a good location between trade routes and also allowed trade over seas.
How did trade contribute to the growth and prosperity of early African states and societies?
How did trade contribute to the growth and prosperity of early African states and societies? Trade brought the early African kingdoms great wealth and power. Ivory and other valuable goods were not the only things shared between societies. Trade also allowed for the spread of culture, religion, language, and ideas.
What factors contributed to the fall of the Songhai Empire?
This increased the power of small West African kingdoms like the Asante and Dahomey kingdoms. It also contributed to the fall of the Songhai Empire, because the slave and gold trade were no longer going through the Songhai kingdom. As a result, the Songhai rulers could not claim tribute and taxes from these kingdoms.
How did kingdoms in West Africa deal with the slave trade?
Kingdoms like the Asante and Dahomey used their power to raid societies like the Bambara, Mende, and Fulanis for slaves. The kingdom of Benin is the only known kingdom in West Africa to abolish slave trading in Benin. The slave trade ban was succesful and forced the Portuguese to search for slaves elsewhere in West Africa.
How did trade influence the course of history in West Africa?
Trade significantly influenced the course of history in West Africa. The wealth made through trade was used to build larger kingdoms and empires. To protect their trade interests, these kingdoms built strong armies.
Why was the Mali kingdom able to establish its influence?
The Mali kingdom was able to establish its influence with ease due to the surrounding savannah terrain. This enabled the easy and speedy dispatch of soldiers across the region to conquer neighbours. The adoption of the Islamic faith by the Mali people in about the 1500s during the rule of Kankan Musa, created a point of unity for this kingdom.