G+Seven

Geography

 * Africa** is a continent comprising 62 political territories, representing the largest of the great southward projections from the main mass of Earth's surface.

Trade
The civilizations that flourished in ancient West Africa were all based on trade, so successful West African leaders tended to be peace makers rather than warriors .

Empire of Ghana
Archaeology provides some clue to Ghana's early history,but we do not know much about its arliest days. Historias think the people in Ghana were farmers. Sometime after 300 these farmers, the Soninke were threatenednby nomadic herders. The herders wanted to take the farmers' water and pustures. For protection, groups of Soninke families began to band together.

Culture
====Some religious practices were similar from village to village.A traditional belief showed the importance of families.Many West Africans believes that the unseen honor these spirits, families marked places as sacred spaces by putting specially carved statues there.Family members gathered in these places to share news and problems with the ancestors .Families also offered food to the ancestors' spirits.====

Empire of Mali
Like Ghana, Mali lay along the upper Niger river .This area's fertil helped Mail grow. In addition, Mali's location on the Niger allowed its people to control of trade,the empire became rich and powerful. According to legend, Mali,s rise to powe began under a ruler named Sundiata
 * Musa I** ( 1280 – 1337) was the tenth //Mansa//, which translates as "King of King" or "Emperor", of the wealthy Mali Empire. At the time of Mansa Musa's rise to the throne, the Malian Empire consisted of territory formerly belonging to the Ghana Empire and Melle (Mali) and immediate surrounding areas. Musa held many titles, such as //Emir of Melle//, //Lord of the Mines of Wangara//, and //Conqueror of Ghanata//, Futa-Jallon, and at least another dozen.[[image:12_44.jpg]]

Empire of Songhai
The **Songhai Empire**, also known as the **Songhay Empire**, was a Songhai state located in western Africa. From the mid-15th to the late 16th century, Songhai was one of the largest Islamic empire in history.

Askia the Great
Asika the Great became the ruler of Songhai when he nearly 50 years old. He ruled Songhai for about 35 years. During his reign the cities of Songhai gained power over the countryside. When he was in his 80s, Akisa went blind. His son Musa forced him to leave the throne. Askia was sent to live on an island. He lived there for nine years until another of his sons brought him back to the capital,where he died.

Artistic Tradition
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