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300
The Beginning of the Ghana Empire
The earliest people of West Africa, the Soninke, banded together after AD 300 for protection against nomadic herders. This made the beginning of Ghana. They gradually grew in strength. -
Jan 1, 800
The Ghana Empire's Rise
Ghana had firm control over trade routes all over West Africa by 800. As trade increased, so did Ghana's wealth. Ghana took advantage of the fact that so many traders entered their empire and started taxing them when they entered and left Ghana's lands. Ghana's gold mines also brought much wealth to the empire. The king kept huge stores of gold while common people were only allowed to have gold dust to use as money. -
Jan 1, 1200
The Fall of the Ghana Empire
The Ghana Empire was strong in the mid-1000s, until three main factors led to its end. The first factor was the invasion of the Almoravids in the 1060s. The second factor was overgrazing. When the Almoravids invaded the Ghana Empire, they brought animals which ate all the grass in pastures and left the soil open to the desert winds. The soil was blown away, making the land useless for farming. The last problem was internal rebellion. People within the Empire rebelled and the country fell apart. -
Jan 1, 1230
The Beginning of the Mali Empire
The Mali Empire grew strong because of its location on fertile soil and trade routes. The Empire is first said to start under the rule of Sundiata. -
Jan 24, 1300
The Mali Empire's Rise
After winning back his country's independence, Sundiata conquered nearby lands, including Ghana, after which he took over salt and gold trades. Then, Sundiata worked to improve agriculture by having lands cleared for crops. He also introduced cotton. People made clothes from cotton and also sold it. Sundiata took away power from local leaders, which did have the title 'mansa'. The next leader was Mansa Musa. He was a famous leader who helped Mali reach the height of its wealth, power, and fame. -
Jan 1, 1400
The Beginning of the Songhai Empire
Right from when the Mali Empire was reaching its height in power, a rival power was growing nearby in the area. This rival power was the Songhai kingdom. Songhai, from its capital at Gao, participated in the same trade that had made Ghana and Mali so rich. In the 1300s, Mansa Musa had conquered Songhai, extending the Mali Empire, but after Mali Empire weakened, Songhai regained their freedom. -
Jan 1, 1464
The Songhai Empire's Rise
The Songhai leaders and the North African Berbers were both Muslims, so they traded with Songhai, who grew richer. As they gained wealth, Songhai expanded and built an empire. This expansion was led by Sunni Ali, who eventually became the ruler of Songhai. During his time as ruler, Sunni Ali worked to unify, strengthen, and expand the Empire. After his death, Askia the Great became the ruler. Under his rule, Timbuktu flourished. Islam gained influence in the Empire. -
Jan 1, 1500
The Fall of the Mali Empire
When Mansa Musa died, his son, Maghan, took the throne, but he was a weak leader. Raiders from the southeast poured into Mali, and Maghan couldn't control them. The raiders set fire to schools and mosques, and after this, Mali never fully recovered. In fact, it continued to decline in power. Then, the Tuareg nomads seized Timbuktu. After this, the Mali empire slowly broke apart and only a small part of Mali remained. -
The Fall of the Songhai Empire
Morrocco, a rival of the Songhai Empire, wanted control over Songhai's salt mines, so they set out for the heart of Songhai. Moroccan soldiers carried advanced weapons, including an arquebus, which was an early form of a gun. Songhai warriors' swords, spears, and bows were no match for Moroccan soldiers' guns and cannons. Another factor that brought down the Empire was change in trade patterns. Songhai's trade routes were less needed. Altogether, the period of Western African Empires was ended.
