7th Grade World History Medieval to Early Modern Times Unit 3 - Chapter 6 Wet African Empires

CHAPTER 600 , California Standards Science Students analyze the geographic , political , economic , religious , and social structures ofthe civilizations of and Mali in Medieval Africa . Analysis Skills Use a variety of maps to explain the expansion and disintegration of empires . Distinguish fact from opinion . Ans Speaking Deliver narrative presentations . Beading Students read and understand appropriate material . FOCUS ON SPEAKING ! A Song For centuries , the history of west peoples and rulers has been kept alive by , performers who memorize the histories of their people . At the end of this chapter , you will pretend to be a griot and perform your own song of praise about one of the empires or leaders , CHAPTER EVENTS WORLD EVENTS The Empire of reaches its height . William the Conqueror invades England .

HOLY History Input video series Watch the video to understand the impact of the salt trade . What You In this chapter you will learn about the great empires of West Africa , which grew rich from trade . This photo shows women in front of a mosque in the city of , in the modern country of Mali . Moroccan Musa invaders leaves Mali Sunni Ali begin their on a hajj to conquers conquest of Mecca Timbuktu . The Mongols Spanish attempt to explorers conquer conquer Japan fails . the Aztec Empire . WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES

Reading Social Studies Society Science and Pow Re and Culture Technology Economics Geography Focus on Themes This chapter describes these leaders encouraged the development of three powerful empires that ruled west Africa their civilizations , civilizations honored for centuries between the years 300 and , Mali , through songs and stories . You will also learn how and . As you read about each empire , you the geography of West Africa affected trade , the will learn who its greatest leaders were and how basis for the regions economy . Facts and Opinions about the Past Focus on Reading Every statement you read can be classified Af ' as either a fact or an opinion . when you read history , it is important car ag ' gus ?

the to focus on the facts . Why ?

By studying facts you can learn what really . happened in the past . Identifying Facts and Opinions A statement is a fact if it can be proved or disproved . For example , research can prove the following statement was an empire in West But research prove the following statement because it is just an opinion , or one belief Emperor Musa of Mali was one of the wisest ers in African Use the process below to decide whether a statement is fact or opinion . Ask yourself , Can this statement be prove or disproved ?

Can we find evidence to show whether it is a true statement or a false one ?

not , the statement is an opinion . CHAPTER , Analysis Distinguish fact from opinion . ELA Beading Read and understand material . You Try It ! Section silent barter ( 32 ) Manin ( 134 ) Section ( 136 ) Musa ( 130 ) The following passage tells about how the rulers of , an empire in West Africa , made money . All the statements in this passage are facts . What makes them facts and not opinions ?

Taxes and Gold With so many traders passing through their From lands , rulers looked for ways to make maple , 133 Sunni Ali ( 143 ) money from them . One way they raised . the Great ( 44 ) money was by forcing traders to pay taxes . Every trader who entered had to pay Section a special tax on the goods he carried . Then . oral history ( 147 ) he had to pay another tax on any goods he ( 147 ) took with him when he left . i proverbs ( 148 ) Traders were not the only people who had 757 ) to pay taxes . The people of also had to pay taxes . In addition , conquered ' many small neighboring tribes , then forced ' them to pay tribute . Rulers used the money i the words that are frequently used from taxes and trade to support ' In this chapter , you learn the following academic words Not all of wealth came from es and tribute . rich mines produced huge amounts of gold . Some of this gold was carried by traders to lands as far away as land , but not all of gold was traded . kings kept huge stores of gold for themselves . process ( various ( 145 ) Identify each of the following as a fact or an opinion and then I explain your choice . i . rulers made money by taxing the traders who came to . This taxation was unfair to traders . The rulers of were too greedy . As you read Chapter you will learn . None of the people who lived in nearby tribes thought they about seven , am , de , should have to pay taxes . read facts about these leaders , think of how the facts could be used to support I . People should have to pay taxes to leave a country . opinions . WEST EMPIRES

SECTION What You Will Learn . Main Ideas . controlled trade and became wealthy . Through its control , built an empire . decline was caused by attacking invaders , grazing , and the loss of trade . The Big Idea The rulers of built an empire by controlling the salt and gold trade . Key and People silent barter , 132 Manin , Study the Niger River and the relationship of vegetation zones of forest , savannah , and desert to trade in gold , salt , food , and slaves and the growth ofthe and Mali empires . Analyze the importance ily , labor specialization , and regional commerce in the development of states and cities in West Africa . 130 CHAPTER Empire of If YOU were there You are a trader , traveling in a caravan from the north into West Africa in about 1000 . The caravan carries many goods , but the most precious is salt Salt is so valuable that people trade gold for it ! You have never met the mysterious men who trade you the gold . You wish you could talk to them to find out where they get it Why do you think the traders are so secretive ?

BUILDING BACKGROUND The various regions of Africa provide people with different resources . West Africa , for example , was rich in both fertile soils and minerals , especially gold and iron . Other regions had plentiful supplies of other resources , such as salt Over time , trade developed between regions with different resources . This trade led to the growth of the first great empire in West Africa . Controls Trade For hundreds of years , trade routes crisscrossed West Africa . For most of that time , West Africans did not much from the trade because the routes were run by Berbers from northern Africa . Eventually , that situation changed . an empire in West Africa , gained control of the able routes . As a result , became a powerful state . As you can see on the map on the following page , the empire of lay between the Niger and Senegal rivers . This location was north and west of the location of the modern nation that bears the name . Beginnings Archaeology provides some clues to early history , but we do not know much about its earliest days . Historians think the first people in were farmers . Sometime after 300 these farmers , the ( were threatened by nomadic herders . The herders wanted to take the farmers water and pastures . For protection , groups of families began to band together . This banding together was the beginning of .

, 1050 I , Once they banded together , the people of grew in strength . They learned how to work with iron and used iron tools to farm the land along the Niger River . They also herded cattle for meat and milk . Because these farmers and herders could produce plenty of food , the population of increased . Towns and villages grew . Besides farm tools , iron was also useful for making weapons . Other armies in the area had weapons made of bone , wood , and stone . These were no match for the iron spear points and blades used by army . Trade in Valuable Goods lay between the vast Sahara Desert and deep forests . In this location , they were in a good position to trade in the I Empire ' Settlement Trade route Trade goods 61 most valuable and salt . Gold came from the south , from mines near the Gulf of Guinea and along the Niger . Salt came from the Sahara in the north . People wanted gold for its beauty . But they needed salt in their diets to survive . Salt , which could be used to preserve food , also made bland food tasty . These qualities made salt very valuable . In fact , Africans sometimes cut up slabs of salt and used the pieces as money . WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES SKILLS What goods came to from the north ?

ACADEMIC process a series of steps by which a task is accomplished The exchange of gold and salt times followed a process called silent barter . Silent barter is a process in which people exchange goods without ever contacting each other directly . The method made sure that the traders did business peacefully . It also kept the exact location of the gold mines secret from the salt traders . In the silent barter process , salt traders went to a riverbank near gold . There they left slabs of salt in rows and beat a drum to tell the gold miners that trading had begun . Then the salt traders moved back several miles from the riverbank . Soon afterward , the gold miners arrived by boat . They left what they considered a fair amount of gold in exchange for the salt . Then the gold miners also moved Salt and Gold back several miles so the salt traders could return . If they were happy with the amount of gold left there , the salt traders beat the drum again , took the gold , and left . The gold miners then returned and picked up their salt . Trading continued until both sides were happy with the exchange . Growth of Trade As the trade in gold and salt increased , rulers gained power . Over time , their military strength grew as well . With their armies they began to take control of this trade from the merchants who had once controlled it . Merchants from the north and south met to exchange goods in . As a result of their control of trade routes , the rulers of became wealthy .

Additional sources of wealth and trade . were developed to add to wealth . Wheat came from the north . Sheep , cattle , and honey came from the south . Local products , including leather and cloth , were also traded for wealth . Among the prized special local products were tassels made from golden thread . As trade increased , capital grew as well . The largest city in West Africa , Saleh ( was an oasis for travelers . These travelers could all the region goods for sale in its markets . As a result , Saleh gained a reputation as a great trading center . Generalizing How did trade help develop ?

Builds an Empire By 800 was in control of West Africa trade routes . Nearly all trade between and southern Africa passed through . Traders were protected by army , which kept trade routes free from bandits . As a result , trade became safer . Knowing they would be protected , traders were not scared to travel to . Trade increased , and grew as well . Taxes and Gold With so many traders passing through their lands , for ways to make money from them . One way they raised money was by forcing traders to pay taxes . Every trader who entered had to pay a special tax on the goods he carried . Then he had to pay another tax on any goods he took with him when he left . Traders were not the only people who had to pay taxes . The people of also had to pay taxes . In addition , conquered many small neighboring tribes , then forced them to pay tribute . Rulers used the money from taxes and tribute to support growing army . Not all of wealth came from taxes and tribute . rich mines huge amounts of gold . Some of this gold was carried by traders to lands as far away as England , but not all of gold was traded . kings kept huge stores of gold for themselves . In fact , all the gold produced in was officially the property of the king . Knowing that rare materials are worth far more than common ones , the rulers banned anyone else in from owning gold nuggets . Common people could own only gold dust , which they used as money . This ensured that the king was richer than his subjects . WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES

FOCUS ON READING Does this quotation express a fact or the writer opinion ?

How can you tell ?

Manin Ruled around 1068 All we know about Manin comes from the writings of a Muslim geographer who wrote about . From his writings . we know that Manin was the nephew of the previous king , a man named . Kingship and property in did not pass from father to son , but from uncle to nephew . Only the sister son could inherit the throne . Once he did become king , Manin surrounded himself with and many luxuries . Expansion of the Empire kings used their great wealth to build a powerful army . With this army the kings of conquered many of their neighbors . Many of these conquered areas were centers of trade . Taking over these areas made kings even richer . kings did think that they could rule all the territory they conquered by themselves . Their empire was quite large , and travel and communication in West Africa could be . To keep order in their empire , they allowed conquered kings to retain much of their power . These kings acted as governors of their territories , answering only to the king . The empire of reached its peak under Manin ( This king had a splendid court where he displayed the vast wealth of the empire . A Spanish writer noted the court splendor . The king adorns himself round his neck and his forearms , and he puts on a high cap rated with gold and wrapped in a turban of cotton . Behind the king stand ten pages holding shields and swords decorated with , from and Summarizing How did the rulers of control trade ?

Contrasting How was inheritance in different from inheritance in other societies you have studied ?

134 CHAPTER Decline In the was rich and powerful , but by the end of the , the empire had collapsed . Three major factors contributed to its end . Invasion The first factor that helped bring about end was invasion . A Muslim group called the ( attacked in the 10605 in an effort to force its leaders to convert to Islam . the army . For 14 years they kept the invaders at bay . In the end , however , the won . They destroyed the city of Saleh . The did control for long , but they certainly weakened the empire . They cut off many trade routes through and formed new trading partnerships with Muslim leaders instead . Without this trade could no longer support its empire . Overgrazing A second factor in decline was a result of the conquest . When the moved into , they brought herds of animals with them . These animals ate all the grass in many pastures , leaving the soil exposed to hot desert winds . These winds blew away the soil , leaving the land worthless for farming or herding . Unable to grow crops , many farmers had to leave in search of new homes . Internal Rebellion A third factor also helped bring about the decline of empire . In about 1200 the people of a country that had conquered rose up in rebellion . Within a few years the rebels had taken over the entire empire of .

Overgrazing Too many animals grazing in one area an lead to problems . such as the loss of that occurred in west Africa . Animals are allowed to graze in areas with lots of grass . too many animals grating however , the grass disappears . leaving the soil below exposed to the wind . The wind blows the sail away , turning what was once grassland into desert Once in control , however , the rebels . found that they could not keep order in AND The mime of . Weakened , was attacked in west Africa rich and and defeated by one of its neighbors . The Powerful through its Comm empire fell apart routes . The empire lasted for centuries , but eventually fell . In the next Identifying Cause and section you will learn that it was replaced Why did decline in the 10003 ?

by a new empire , Mali . Online Quiz Section I Assessment Reviewing Ideas . Terms . and People IE , Critical thinking a . Identify What were the two most . Identifying Cause and valuable resources traded in ?

Effect Draw a diagram . Explain How did the silent barter system work ?

like the one shown here . a . Identify Who was Manin ?

Use it to identify factors What did kings do with the that helped trade grow and those that led money they raised from taxes ?

to its decline . Elaborate Why did the rulers of not want , have gold ?

What group invaded in the late Gathering Information Look back this woos ?

section for information on and ' hell Cause the Manin . Is there anything in this section you might fa include in your song ?

WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES 135 SECTION What You Will Learn . Main ' A ruler named made Mali into an empire . Mali reached its height under the ruler Musa . Mali fell to invaders in the late . The wealthy and powerful Mali Empire ruled West Africa after the fall of . Musa , 130 IRE Describe the role of the caravan trade in the changing religious and cultural characteristics of and the of beliefs , ethics , and law . Trace the growth of the Arabic language in government , trade , and Islamic scholarship in West Africa . CHAPTER Empire of Mali If YOU were there You are a servant of the great Musa , ruler of Mali . been chosen as one of the servants who will travel with him on a pilgrimage to Mecca . The king has given you all fine new clothes of silk for the trip . He will carry much gold with him . You never left your home before . But now you will see the great city of Cairo , Egypt , and many other new places . How do you feel about going on this . BUILDING BACKGROUND Musa was one of greatest rulers , and his empire , Mali , was one ofthe largest in the continent history . Rising from the ruins of , Mali took overthe trade routes of West Africa and grew into a powerful state . Makes Mali an Empire Like , Mali ( lay along the upper Niger River . This area fertile soil helped Mali grow . In addition , Mali location on the Niger allowed its people to control trade on the river . Through this control of trade , the empire became rich and powerful . According to legend , Mali rise to power began under a ruler named ( Beginnings of the Empire Since written records about Mali are scarce , the details of its rise to power are unclear . Many legends about this period exist , though . According to these legends , Mali strong leader , was both a mighty warrior and a magician . According to the legends , he had to overcome great hardships before he could build his empire . was the son of a previous king of Mali . When he was a boy , however , Mali was conquered by a powerful king who treated the people of Mali badly . grew up hating hint . When he reached adulthood , built up a huge army and won his independence . Then he set about conquering many nearby kingdoms , including .

Improvements in Mali After had conquered , he took over the salt and gold trades . He also worked to improve agriculture in Mali . had new farmlands cleared for beans , onions , rice , and other crops . He even introduced a new crop to cotton . People used cotton to make ing that was comfortable in the warm climate . Realizing its value , they also sold cotton to other people . To help feed the people of his new empire , legend says that put some soldiers to work in the . Once Mali enemies had been defeated , the soldiers did need to , so they worked side slaves on large farms . Using conquered people as slaves was a common practice in the kingdoms of West Africa . Mali Empire Settlement Trade route Trade goods 250 250 500 GEOGRAPHY INTERPRETING MAPS SKILLS Location On what river are and Gao located ?

Consolidation of Power Under guidance , Mali grew into a prosperous kingdom . To keep order and protect his authority , took power away from local leaders . These local leaders had borne the title ( a title now took for himself . had both political and religious roles in society . By taking on the religious authority of the , gained even more power in Mali . WEST AFRICAN I 31

THE ( TODAY Some of the mosques built by Musa can still be seen in West Africa today . The religious role of the grew out of traditional Malian beliefs . According to these beliefs , the people ancestors had made an agreement with the spirits of the land . The spirits would make sure that the land provided plenty of food . By keeping in touch with their ancestors , the people could contact these spirits . died in 1255 . His son , who was the next ruler of Mali , also took the title of , as did the empire later rulers . Unlike , though , most of these later rulers were Muslims . Sequencing What steps did take to turn Mali into an empire ?

Musa Mali most famous ruler was a Muslim king named Musa ( Under his skillful leadership , Mali reached the height of its wealth , power , and fame in the 13005 . Because of Musa ence , Islam spread through a large part of West Africa . Musa ruled Mali for about 25 years . During that time , his army captured many important trade cities , including Timbuktu ( Gao ( GOW ) and ( These cities became part of Mali empire . The World Learns about Mali Religion was very important to Musa . In 1324 , he left Mali on a pilgrimage to Mecca . Making such a , or hajj , is a spiritual duty of all Muslims . Musa stop on his hajj was Cairo , Egypt . According to one account , he arrived in the city with nearly 100 camels , each loaded with 300 pounds of gold . Some men traveled with him . About 10 years later , a historian spoke to an official who had met him 138 CHAPTER . He did me extreme honor and treated me with the greatest addressed me , however , only through an interpreter despite his perfect ability to speak in the Arabic tongue . Then he forwarded sent to the royal treasury many loads of unworked native gold and other valuables . He left no court emir nor holder of a royal without the gift of a load of gold . The people of Cairo made uncountable out of Ahmad Allah , from This historian says that Musa gave away so much gold in Egypt that gold was no longer rare there , even 10 years later ! As a result , its value dropped steeply . Through his journey , Musa introduced the empire of Mali to the world . Before he came to power , only a few people outside of West Africa had ever heard of Mali , even though it was one of the largest empires . Musa made such a great impression on people , though , that Mali became famous throughout Africa , Asia , and Europe . Learning and Religion in Mali Just as he supported his faith , Musa supported education . In his years as ruler , he sent scholars to study in Morocco . These scholars later set up schools in Mali for studying the an . Timbuktu became famous for its schools . Musa wanted Muslims to be able to read the an . Therefore , he stressed the importance of learning to read and write the Arabic language . Arabic became the main language not only for religious study but also for government and trade . Musa wanted to spread Islam in West Africa . To encourage this spread , he hired architects from other Muslim countries to build mosques throughout his empire . Elaborate mosques were built in Timbuktu , and other cities .

Timbuktu Timbuktu became a major trading city at the height of Mali power under Musa . Traders came to Timbuktu from line north and south to trade for salt . gold , metals , shells , and many other goods . as Winter floods allowed boats to reach Timbuktu from the Niger River . ia . Er At crowded market for goods like sugar , kola nuts , and glass beads . Marisa Musa and later rulers built several large mosques in the city , which became a center of Islamic learning . Timbuktu walls and ings were mostly built with bricks made of dried mud , Heavy rains could soften the bricks and destroy buildings . Camel caravans from the north brought goods like salt , cloth , books , and slaves to ade at Timbuktu .

Musa hoped that people would accept Islam as he had , but he did not want to force people to convert . Still , during his reign Islam became very popular in Mali . Following their king example , many people from Mali went to Mecca . In turn , many Muslims from Asia , Egypt , and other parts of Africa visited Mali . These journeys between regions helped create more trade and made Mali even richer . Identifying Cause and Effect How did Musa spread Islam ?

The Fall of Mali Mali success depended on strong leaders . Unfortunately , some of Mali leaders were not strong . Their poor leadership the empire . When Musa died , his son ( took the throne . Unlike his father , however , was a weak ruler . When raiders poured into Mali , he could stop them . The raiders set to Timbuktu great schools and mosques . Mali never fully recovered from this ble blow . Weakened , the empire gradually declined . Section Assessment One reason the empire declined was its size . The empire had become so large that the government could no longer control it . Parts of the empire began to break away . For example , the city of Gao declared its independence in the 14005 . Invaders also helped weaken the empire . In 1431 the ( nomads from the Sahara , attacked and seized Timbuktu . Soon afterward , the dom of ( in northern Mali declared its independence . ally , the people living at the edges of Mali empire broke away . By 1500 , nearly all of the lands the empire had once ruled were lost . Only a small area of Mali remained . Evaluating How did Mali growth eventually weaken the empire ?

AND PREVIEW Through the leadership of people like and Marisa Musa , Mali became a large empire . In time , it became famous for its wealth and its centers of learning . In the next section you will learn about the empire that took over much of Mali wealth and its great cities . That empire was called . om Online Quiz KEYWORD 507 Reviewing Ideas , Terms . and People , Critical Thinking . Identify Who was ?

Sequence How did turn Mali into an empire ?

I a . Identify What became the main language of government , trade , and Islamic scholarship in West Africa ! Summarize How did Musa journey change people perceptions of Mali ?

Elaborate How did Islam help turn Mali into a center of learning ?

a . Identify What group invaded Mali in 1431 ' Explain How did Mali size lead to its fall ?

Finding Main Ideas Draw two boxes . In them , list three major accomplishments of 140 CHAPTER and Musa . Focus on SPEAKING . Taking Notes on Mali Add to the notes you took earlier your thoughts on and Musa . Compare the leaders of Mali with those of . Start thinking about which you will choose for your poem .

BIOGRAPHY Musa According to How could one travels ' i ' i ' i ' on his become a major historic event ?

lo Mecca by some people . when did be live ?

the late and early People . Where did he live ?

Mali We . a to attend to the king . What did he do ?

Musa , the ruler of Mali , was one of the Muslim 500 were Servants to kings of West Africa . He became a major in African and world history attend to his largely because of a pilgrimage he made to the city of Mecca . more were Why is he important ?

Musa spectacular journey attracted the Wear me rich attention of the Muslim world and of Europe . For the first time , other people Sud 35 eyes turned to West Africa . During his travels , Musa gave out huge , tamed Staffs amounts of gold . His spending heavily decorated with made people eager to the source gold . Historians have of such wealth . Within 200 years , that the European explorers would arrive on Musa 93 the shores of western Africa . away on his . be worth more than Points How do you 100 ' think Musa changed views of West Africa ?

This Spanish map from the 1300 shows Musa sitting on his throne . THE GRANGER ( NEW YORK What You Will Learn Mam Ideas . The new empire in West Africa . the Great ruled as an Islamic empire . fell to Moroccan invaders , great era of empires . The Bi Idea The Empire . Islam in West Africa . Key People Sunni Ali , 143 the Great , 144 ' IE Describe the role of the caravan trade in the changing religious and cultural characteristics of West Africa and the influence of Islamic beliefs , ethics , and law . 142 CHAPTER Empire of If YOU were there You are a farmer in the Niger River Valley in about 1500 . making your first visit to the great city of Timbuktu . You stare around you at the buildings with their tall towers . in the streets you hear people talking in many different languages . They must be students from other countries , come to study in the universities here . From the tower of a mosque , you hear the call to prayer How does the great city make you feel ?

BUILDING BACKGROUND Timbuktu was the greatest city in Mali . But as the empire of Mali grew weaker and fell , the city did not . As a new empire arose in West Africa , its rulers recognized the greatness of Timbuktu . Just as it had been the major city of Mali empire , so it was the greatest city in Mali . The Build an Empire Even as the empire of Mali was reaching its height , a rival power was growing in the area . That rival was the ( kingdom . From their capital at Gao , the participated in the same trade made and Mali so rich . By the the had become rich and powerful enough to draw the attention of Mali rulers . Musa sent his army to conquer the and make their lands part of his empire . As you have already seen , Gao became one of the most important cities in all of Mali . The Birth of the Empire did not remain part of Mali empire for long . As Mali government grew weaker , the people of rose up against it and regained their freedom . Even before they were conquered by Mali , the leaders of the had become Muslims . As such , they shared a common religion with many of the Berbers who crossed the Sahara to trade in West Africa . Because of this shared religion , the Berbers were willing to trade with the , who began to grow richer .

Growth and Conquest As the grew richer from trade , they expanded their tory . Gradually , they built an empire . growth was largely the work of one man , Sunni Ali ( who became the ruler of in 1464 . Before Ali took over , the state had been disorganized and poorly run . As ruler , he worked constantly to unify , strengthen , and enlarge it . Much of the land that Sunni Ali added to his empire had been part of Mali . For example , he conquered the wealthy trade cities of Timbuktu and . In 1468 the rulers of Mali asked Sunni Ali to help off invaders who were about to capture Timbuktu . Ali agreed , but once he had driven off the invaders he decided I Empire Settlement Trade route Trade goods 250 250 ( MAPS to keep the city for himself . From there he launched attacks against , which he captured five years later . As king , Sunni Ali encouraged all people in his empire to work together . To build peace between religions , he in both Muslim and local religions . As a result , he brought peace and stability to . Finding Main Ideas What did Sunni Ali achieve as ruler ofthe ?

WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES HY ' Region About how many miles did the Empire stretch from west to east ?

the Great Sunni Ali died in 1492 . He was followed as king by his son , Sunni Baru , who was not a Muslim . However , most of the people of the empire towns were . They were afraid that if Sunni Baru did support Islam they would lose power in the empire , and trade with other Muslim lands would suffer . As a result , they rebelled against Sunni Baru . The leader of the people rebellion was a general named Muhammad Ture ( After overthrowing Sunni Baru , he took the title , a title of high military rank . Eventually , he became known as the Great . Religion and Education Like Musa , the famous ruler of Mali , the Great took his Muslim faith very seriously . After he defeated Sunni Baru , made a pilgrimage to Mecca , just as Musa had 200 years earlier . Also like Musa , worked to support education . Under his rule the city of Timbuktu once again . The great city contained universities , schools , ies , and mosques . Especially famous was the University of ( People arrived there from all over West Africa to study mathematics , science , medicine , grammar , and law . In the early , a Muslim traveler and scholar called Leo wrote this about Timbuktu There are in Timbuktu , teachers and priests , all properly appointed by the king . He greatly honors learning . Many books imported from Barbary North Africa are also is more made from this commerce trade than from all other , from History and Description also became a center of ing , especially for medicine . Doctors there discovered that mosquitoes spread malaria . They even performed surgery on the human eye . The people of depended on the Niger River for many things . It was an important transportation route and provided fertile lands and a source of water for farming .

Trade and Government Timbuktu and were centers of learning , but they were also trading ters . Merchants from distant lands came to these cities and to Gao . Most of traders were Muslim , and as they gained in the empire so did Islam . the Great , himself a devout Muslim , encouraged the growth in Islamic . Many of the laws he made were similar to those of Muslim nations across the Sahara . To help maintain order , set up provinces within . He removed local leaders and appointed new governors who were loyal to him . One such governor ran the empire for when he was away on pilgrimage to Mecca . When he returned , brought even more Muslim into his government . also created special departments to oversee certain tasks . These departments worked much like government do today . He created a standing professional army , the in West Africa . Evaluating What do you think was greatest accomplishment ?

Falls to Morocco After the Great lost power to his son in 1528 , other ruled . The empire did not survive for long , though . Areas along the empire borders started to nibble away at power . The Moroccan Invasion One of northern neighbors , Morocco , wanted to control the salt mines . To get those mines , can troops invaded . With them they brought a terrible new ( The was an early form of a gun . BIOGRAPHY the Great the Great became the ruler of when he was nearly 50 years old . He ruled for about 35 years . During his reign the cities of gained power over the countryside . When he was in his 805 , went blind . His son Musa forced him to leave the throne . 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 . His tomb is still one of the most honored places in all of West Africa , Drawing Why do you think the tomb is still considered an honored place ?

The Moroccans wanted control of the salt mines because they needed money . Not long before the over the mines , Morocco had defended itself against huge invading armies from Portugal and Spain . The Moroccans had eventually defeated the Europeans , but the defense had nearly ruined Morocco . Knowing of wealth , the Moroccan ed to attack for its rich deposits of salt and gold . The Moroccan army set out for the heart of in 1591 . Not all of the troops were Moroccan , though . About half were actually Spanish and Portuguese war prisoners . These prisoners had agreed to against rather than face more time in prison . Well trained and disciplined , these soldiers carried various weapons , including the deadly new guns . The Moroccans even dragged a few small cannons across the desert with them . ACADEMIC various of many types WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES

ANALYSIS The Destruction of The Moroccans guns and brought disaster to . The swords , spears , and bows carried by warriors were no match for . The Moroccans attacked Timbuktu and Gao , looting and taking over both cities . The Moroccans did push farther into , but the damage was done . hai never recovered from the loss of these cities and the income they produced . Changes in trade patterns completed fall . Overland trade declined as port cities north and south of the old empire became more important . For example , people who lived south of began Section Assessment Reviewing . and People Em critical Thinking . Analyzing begin ?

Copy the graphic organizer on the right . In each oval , describe an important development in during the rule of the Great . Focus on SPEAKING . Evaluating Add information to your notes for leaders . What were their achievements ?

Compare the achievements with those of and Mali . a . Identify In what part of West Africa did Summarize What did Sunni Ali accomplish ?

a . Identify What religion gained influence in under the Great ?

Analyze How did contact with other cultures change government ?

a . Identify which group of people invaded the Empire in the 15905 ?

Predict How might West Africa history have been different if . the invaders who conquered had not had ?

CHAPTER SKILL . TIME LINES Which empire ?

to trade along the Atlantic coast . European traders preferred to sail to Atlantic ports than to deal with Muslim traders . Slowly , the period of great West African empires came to an end . Predicting Whatdo you think happened to the people of West Africa after the empire of was defeated ?

SUMMARY AND PREVIEW The empire of was known for its wealth , culture , and learning . In the next section you will read more about the major West African cultures and how we know about them . go ( om Online Quiz SECTION Historical and Artistic Traditions IfYOU were there You are the youngest and smallest in your family . People often tease you about not being very strong . in the evenings , when work is done , the people of your village gather to listen to storytellers . One of your favorites is about the hero . As a boy he was small and weak , but he grew to be a great warrior and hero . How does the story of . make you feel ?

BUILDING BACKGROUND Although trading empires rose and fell in West Africa , many traditions continued through the centuries . in every town and village , storytellers passed on the people histories , legends , and wise sayings . These were at the heart of West arts and cultural traditions . Storytellers Maintain Oral History Although cities like Timbuktu and were known for their universities and libraries , writing was never very common in West Africa . In fact , none of the major early civilizations of West Africa developed a written language . Arabic was the only written language they used . Many Muslim traders , government , and religious leaders could read and write Arabic . The lack of a written language does not mean that the people of West Africa did know their history , though . They passed along information through oral histories . An oral history is a spoken record of past events . The task of remembering West Africa history was entrusted to storytellers . The West African storytellers were called ( GREE ) They were highly respected in their communities because the people of West Africa were very interested in the deeds of their ancestors . helped keep this history alive for each new generation . What Lea ain den . Storytellers helped maintain the oral history of the cultures of West Africa . Visitors to West Africa from other lands wrote histories and descriptions of what they i saw there . Traditionally , West Africans have valued the arts . Because the people of West Africa did not have a written language , their culture has been passed down through oral history , writings by other people , and the arts . Key Terms oral history , 147 , 147 proverbs , 148 kente , 151 Trace the growth of the Arabic language in government , trade , and Islamic scholarship in West Africa . Describe the importance of written and oral traditions in the transmission of African history and culture . AFRICAN EMPIRES

Oral Traditions West African storytellers called had the job of remembering and passing on their history . In this photo , everyone wears their best clothes and gathers around a griot to listen . The stories were entertaining as well as informative . They told of past events and of the deeds of people . For example , some stories explained the rise and fall of the West African empires . Other stories described in detail the actions of powerful kings and warriors . Some made their stories more lively by acting out events from the past like scenes in a play . In addition to stories , the recited proverbs , or short sayings of wisdom or truth . They used proverbs to teach lessons to the people . For example , one West can proverb warns , Talking does the basket in the This proverb reminds people that they must work to accomplish things . They ca just talk about what they want to do . Another proverb advises , A hippopotamus can be made invisible in dark It warns people to remain alert . Just as it can be hard to see animals in a deep pool , people do always see the problems they . will face . CHAPTER In order to recite their stories and , the memorized hundreds of names and events . Through this process the passed on West African history from generation to tion . However , some confused names and events in their heads . When this , facts about some historical events became distorted . Still , the stories tell us a great deal about life in the West African empires . West African Epics Some of the griot poems are poems about kingdoms and heroes . Many of these epic poems are collected in the ( and the . The tells the history of . intertwined with historical events , though , are myths and legends . For example , one story is about a terrifying snake god named . This god promised that would prosper if the people a young woman to him every

year . One year a mighty warrior killed . But as the god died , he cursed . The say that it was this curse that caused the empire of to fall . Like the , the is about the history of an empire , Mali . It is the story of , Mali legendary first ruler . According to the epic , when was still a boy , a conqueror captured Mali and killed father and brothers . He did kill because the boy was sick and did seem like a threat . However , grew up to be an expert hunter and warrior . Eventually he overthrew the conqueror and became king . Drawing Conclusions Why were oral traditions important in West Africa ?

Visitors Write Histories The people of West Africa left no written histories of their own . Visitors Africa from other parts of the world , however , did write about the region . Much of what we know about early West Africa comes from the writings of travelers and scholars from Muslim lands such as Spain and Arabia . One of the first people to write about West Africa was an Arab scholar named ( He visited the region in the 9005 . In his writings , described the geography , toms , history , and achievements of West Africa . About 100 years later , another writer , Abu , wrote about West Africa . He lived in Cordoba , Spain , where he met many people who had been to West Africa . Based on the stories these people told him , wrote about life in West African kingdoms . More famous than either of these two writers was Ibn , a tireless traveler who described most of the Muslim world . From 1353 to 1354 Ibn traveled through West Africa . His account of this journey describes the political and cultural lives of West Africans in great detail . The last of the major Muslim Visitors to West Africa was a young man called Leo ( or Leo the African . Born in what is now Spain , Leo traveled through northern and ern Africa on missions for the government . On his way home , however , pirates Leo and brought him to Rome as a prisoner . Although he was freed , he stayed in Rome for many years . There he wrote a description of what he had seen in Africa . Because Leo lived and wrote in Europe , for a long time his work was the only source about life in Africa available to Europeans . Generalizing Why were the written histories of West Africa written by people from other lands ?

Primary Source Book A Description of Mali In the , traveled through much and Africa . This passage describes the people of Mali one of the places he visited in . They possess some admirable qualities . They are seldom unjust , and have a greater abhorrence hatred of injustice than any other people . Their sultan ruler shows no mercy to anyone who is guilty of the least act of it . There is security in their country . Neither traveler nor inhabitant in it has anything to fear from robbers or men of violence . They are careful to observe the hours of prayer , and ous careful in attending them in congregations gatherings . and in bringing up their children to them . from Travels in Asia and Africa SKILL ANALYZING SOURCES Why may Ibn have been particularly interested in security within Mali ! WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES

West Africans Value Arts Like most peoples , West Africans valued the arts . The art they produced took many forms . Common West African art forms included sculpture , and ing , music , and dance . Sculpture Of all the visual art forms , the sculpture of West Africa is probably the best . West Africans made ornate statues and carvings out of wood , brass , clay , ivory , stone , and other materials . Most statues from West Africa are of the sculptor ancestors . In most cases , these statues were made for religious rituals , to ask for the ancestors blessings . Sculptors made other statues as gifts for the gods . These sculptures were kept in holy places . They were never meant to be seen by people . Music From Mali Did you know that the music you listen to today may have begun with the ?

From the 16005 to the , many people from West Africa were brought to America as slaves . in America , these slaves continued to sing the way they had in Africa . They also continued to play traditional instruments such as the kora played by Senegalese cian , the son of a griot ( right ) Over time , this music developed into a style called the blues , made popular by such artists as . King ( left ) in turn , the blues shaped other styles of music , including jazz and rock . So , the next time you hear a Memphis blues track or a cool jazz tune , listen for its ancient African roots ! ANALYSIS SKILL ANALYZING INFORMATION How did West African music affect modem American music ?

150 CHAPTER Because their statues were often used in religious rituals , many African artists were deeply respected . People thought artists had been blessed by the gods . Long after the decline of , Mali , and , West African art is still admired . Museums around the world today display African art . In addition , African sculpture helped inspire some European artists of the 19005 , including Henri and Pablo Picasso . Masks and Clothing In addition to statues , the artists of West Africa carved elaborate masks . Made of wood , these masks bore the faces of animals such as hyenas , lions , monkeys , and . Artists often painted the masks after carving them . People wore these masks during rituals as they danced around . The way reflected off the masks made them look fierce and lifelike .

Many African societies were also famous for the cloth they wove . The most famous of these cloths is called kente ( Kente is a , brightly colored fabric . The cloth was woven in narrow strips that were then sewn together . Kings and queens in West Africa wore garments made of kente for special occasions . Music and Dance in many West African societies , music and dance were as important as the visual arts . Singing and dancing were great forms of entertainment , but they also helped people honor their history and were central to many celebrations . For example , music was played when a ruler entered a room . Dance has long been a central part of African society . Many West African cultures used dance to celebrate events or ceremonies . For example , they may have performed one dance for weddings and SUMMARY AND PREVIEW The societies another for funerals . In some parts of West of West Africa never developed written Africa , people still perform dances similar languages , but their histories and cultures to those performed hundreds of years ago . have been passed on through traditions and customs . You will next read about another culture in which traditions are . READING CHECK Summarizing Summarize how traditions were preserved in West Africa . Online Quiz Section Assessment Reviewing Ideas . Terms . and People IE . Critical Thinking What is oral history ?

Create a Generalize Why were and their stories Chart like the One DOW important in West African society ?

Use it to describe the and the . Evaluate Why may an oral history provide SPEAKING Great Epics of West Africa different information than a written account ?

a . Identify Name one writer who wrote about West Africa . Writing about Oral and written Traditions Take . notes on how and musicians wrote and played to get ideas for your own performance . Consider these questions How dramatic should my praise song be ?

How can I make the mance of my praise song more interesting ?

Infer How do you think these writers views of West Africa may have differed from the views of West Africans ?

identify What were two forms of visual art lar in West Africa ?

WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES Literature in History if I ma WORD HELP tampon a protective bank or wall colossal gigantic provisions supplies is another name for . is one of his assistants . is another name for . Imagine that you are one of warriors . How do you feel as you look down on the city of ?

A sofa is a warrior . The were the people of Mali . Reading events that advance the plot and determine how each event explains past or present or future . 152 CHAPTER from by , as told by Translated by Pickett About the Reading For almost 900 years , West African have been telling the story of , king and founder of the Mali Empire . Like other ancient epics , this one is a blend of history and legend . Some parts of the story are based on as defeat of the , which took place in about 1235 . Other elements , though , were added over time for dramatic effect . In the following episode , for ample , an almost superhuman swoops down upon capital city , vowing to destroy it in a single morning . Imagine the sequence of events . was a city . In the open plain her triple rampart with towers reached into the sky . The city comprised a and fortresses and the palace of loomed above the whole city like a gigantic tower . had but one gate colossal and made of iron , the work of the sons of . hoped to tie down outside of , for he had enough to hold out for a year . The sun was beginning to set when appeared before the . From the top of a hill , and his general staff gazed upon the fearsome city of the . The army camped in the plain opposite the great gate of the city and tires were lit in the camp . resolved to take in the course of a morning . At daybreak the towers of the ramparts were black with sofas . Others were positioned on the ramparts themselves . They were the archers . The were masters in the art of storming a town . In the front line placed the sofas of Mali , while those who held the ladders were in the second line protected by the shields of the . The main body of the army was to attack the city gate . When all was ready , gave the order to attack . The drums resounded , the horns blared and like a tide the Mandingo front line

moved off , giving mighty shouts . With their shields raised above their heads the advanced up to the foot of the wall , then the began to rain large stones down on the assailants . From the rear , the bowmen of shot arrows at the ramparts . The attack spread and the town was assaulted at all points . archers arrows over the ramparts . Within the walls the thatched huts took fire and the smoke swirled up . The ladders stood against the curtain wall and the first Mandingo sofas were already at the top . Seized by panic through seeing the town on , the . On one knee the WORD HELP assailants attackers surmounting rising above razing tearing down , nephew , had rebelled against his uncle . hesitated a moment . The huge tower surmounting the gate , for smiths had made themselves the masters of it . They got into the city where the screams of women and children brought the panic to a head . They opened the gates to the main body of the enemy . Then began the massacre . Women and children in the midst of implored mercy of the victors . and his cavalry were now in front of the awesome tower palace of . conscious that he was lost , came out to . With his sword held aloft he bore down on , but the latter dodged him and , catching hold of the braced arm , forced him to his knees whilst the sword dropped to the ground . He did not kill him but delivered him into the hands of . Just as he had wished , had taken in the course of a morning . When thing was outside of the town and all that there was to take had been taken out , gave the order to complete its destruction . The last houses were set to and prisoners were employed in the razing of the walls . Thus , as intended , was destroyed to its very foundations . CONNECTING LITERATURE TO HISTORY . Analyzing West African epics sometimes included both elements of truth and fictional embellishments . Which details in this excerpt sound like they could be true ?

Which were probably invented later ?

What makes you think that ?

is and bestfriend . blanket was woven by the people of modem Mali , the descendants of and his subjects . Making Decisions had to commit to memory hundreds of events in order to tell their stories . They would sometimes act stories out like plays . If you were a griot , how might you bring the action in this excerpt to life ?

. Social Studies Skills Critical Thinking Participation Analysis Study Interpreting Maps Expansion of Empires understand the skin Study the map itself . Compare the colors and symbols in the legend to those on the map . Many types of maps are useful in the study of Note any labels , especially those that may show tory . Physical maps show natural features on the political change . look for other indications of earth surface . Political maps show human Cultural political changes on the map . features such as cities , states , and countries . ern political maps show the borders of and the skill states and countries . Historical political maps show what cultural features were in the past . Interpret the map below to answer the following some historical map Show how questions about the Mali and empires . boundaries and features changed over time . Being which was ?

which I able to interpret such maps makes the growth and expanded the most ?

disintegration of countries and empires easier to was ever part of the Man ?

visualize and understand . Explain how the map provides this information . Who controlled the City of Gao in year 1100 ?

Lear the ' A ' in 1325 ?

in 1515 ?

Use these guidelines to interpret maps that show . BY What date ( 10 You know fol 51119 that the Mali Change Empire had disintegrated ?

How do you know ?

Read the title to out what the map is about . Read the legend . The map title may state the time period covered ?

by the map . However , in this type of map , information about dates is I I I ' often found in the legend . 1000 Study the legend carefully to be sure it . 300 600 Miles you understand what each color or symbol means . Pay special tion to colors or symbols that might indicate changes in borders , signs of the growth or loss of a territory . 300 CHAPTER ,

Visual Summary the main ideas of the chapter The Empire developed in West Africa and controlled he trade in salt The history of West Africa has been preserved through , writing , music , and art . Reviewing Vocabulary , Terms , and People Imagine that these terms and people from the chapter are correct answers to items in a crossword puzzle . Write the clues for the answers . Then make the puzzle with some answers written down and some across . silent barter . Manin . Musa various . the Great oral history proverbs . kente I Sunni Ali process Standards Review Use the visual summary below to help you review kings built an empire and Spread Islam in West Africa . pire continued Comprehension and Critical Thinking SECTION I ( Pages ) a . Identify What were the two major trade goods that made rich ?

Where did each come from ?

Draw Conclusions Why did merchants in not want other traders to know where their gold came from ?

Evaluate Who do you think was more responsible for the collapse of , the people of or outsiders ?

Why ?

SECTION ( Pages ) um a . Describe How did Islam society in Mali ?

Compare and Contrast How were and Musa similar ?

How were they different ?

Elaborate How did Mali growth and power help lead to its downfall ?

AFRICAN EMPIRES 55 ( Page ) A Reading and Analysis Skills a . Identify What ruler led in its conquest of Mali ?

Distinguishing Fact and Opinion Read the primary Make inferences why did Muhammad Tum source and answer the questions that follow . become known as the Great ?

Evaluate which do you think played more The interpreter plays on an Instrument of a role in Society , Warriors traders ?

made of reeds , with some small at its lower why ?

end , and chants a poem In praise of the sultan , recalling his battles and deeds of valor after has SECTION ( Pages 147451 ) his display , come in . Each is a . Describe Who were the ?

What role did a , th lay in west African society ?

with a wooden head with a red beak , to look like ey a thrush stand in front of the sultan in this . Make Why do you think ridiculous makeup and and dance were so important in West African society ?

20 . Is the first sentence of this passage a fact or an opinion ?

How do you know ?

21 . What words or phrases display Ibn opinions about the poets of Mali ?

Evaluate Which do you think is a more reliable source about life in the Mali a story told by a modern griot or an account written by a Muslim scholar who had spoken to travelers from Mali ?

Defend your answer . Social Studies Skills Reviewing Themes Understanding Political Change Study the maps of Geography How did the location of the west , Mali , and on pages 137 and 143 African empires affect their success at trade ?

the ' 70 18 . Economics How did economics shape the 22 . Which empire appears to have included the and societies of West African empires ?

largest area ?

23 . Which empire seems to have contained the most trading cities ?

SI the Internet 24 . How did the government of Timbuktu change 19 . Activity Writing Proverbs Does the early bird time ?

get the ?

If you go outside at sunrise to check , you missed the fact that it a proverb that ' means The one that gets there can earn FOCUS ON SPEAKI Created many 25 . Presenting Your Praise Song Review your notes that ' Enter the and choose an empire or leader . Look back at the ity keyword . Then use the Internet resources to Chapter to get as many details about that empire Write three that might haVe been Said or leader as you can . Next choose the style of during the time Of the 319 west Am your song . You may pick a familiar tune , can empires . Make sure your proverbs are written pose a rap song or compose a simple blues Song from the point of view of a West African person Now write Words to go with your living during those music . Be sure that your song the empire or leader and tells about important ments . Practice your song until you can sing it without looking at the words . Once you have prepared your song , it . You do have to sing . You can chant or speak if you prefer . CHAPTER

Standards Assessment DIRECTIONS Head each question , and write the letter of the best response . Well placed for the caravan trade , it was badly situated to defend itself from the raiders of the Sahara . These restless nomads were repeatedly at the gates of Timbuktu , and often enough they burst them open with disastrous results for the inhabitants . Life here was never quite safe enough to recommend it as the centre center of a big state . Davidson , from A History of In this quote , the author is discussing why was A a good place for universities . not a good place for a capital city . agood location for trade . not a good location for the center of the state . a In the second sentence of the passage above , what does the phrase hammering at the gates of mean ?

A driving nails into Timbuktu gates knocking on the door to get in the city trying to get into and conquer the city making noise to anger the inhabitants Which of the following rivers helped the development of the West African empires ?

A Niger Congo Nile I The wealth of , Mall , and was based on A raiding other tribes . the gold and salt trade . trade in ostriches and elephant tusks . making iron tools and weapons . The two rulers who were most responsible for spreading Islam were A Sunni Ali and Musa . and Sunni Ali . Ibn and Leo . Musa and the Great . contributed to West African societies by A fighting battles . collecting taxes . preserving oral history . trading with the Berbers . Connecting with Past Learnings You learned earlier about the fall of the Roman Empire . Mali fell for some of the same reasons that the Roman Empire ended . Of the following , which is not one of those reasons ?

A invasions by other peoples large size of the empire lack of strong leadership lack of products for trade WEST AFRICAN EMPIRES Writing Workshop Assignment Write a paper explaining one of these topics I how the introduction of iron changed life in early West African civilizations I why the empire of Mali declined and fell Using a Essays how or why should be written in a clear and consistent order . Consider using one ofthese I chronological order , or the order that events occurred I order of importance . going from the most important information or the least important , or from the least important to the most important Introduction I Startwith an interesting fact or ' question . I Identify your big idea . i I include important background information . I Create at least one paragraph for I Include facts and details to explain I Use chronological order or order of How and Why in History hy were the pyramids built ?

How did early West Africans get water for their crops ?

Often the question we ask about something begins with why or how . One way we can answer how or why questions is by writing an explanation . Considering Topic and Audience As soon as you choose one of the two topics to write about , you need to convert it to a big idea . For example , your big idea might be The introduction of iron changed life in early West African civilizations in three important You also need to think about the people who will read your essay . In this case , your audience will be middle school students . What ground information will they need to understand your explanation ?

What details or might cause confusion ?

Collecting and Organizing Information Scan the material in your textbook , looking for information about your topic . Use that information to start a plan for your paper and to organize the support for your big idea . For example , look for two or three ways in which iron changed life in early West Africa or two or three factors that caused Mali to fall . If you need more , check your library or the Internet for sources on early West Africa . Write Here is a framework that can help you write a draft . conclusion I Summarize your main points . I your big idea in different words . Body each point supporting your big idea . and illustrate each point . importance to present your support .

. Evaluate and Revise Evaluating Clear , straightforward language is the key to writing effective nations . Use the following questions to discover ways to improve your paper . Evaluation for an Explanation of How or Why I Do you begin with an interesting fact or question ?

I Does your introduction identify your big idea and provide any I Do you include facts and details to explain and illustrate each point ?

I Do you use chronological order or order of importance to organize background information your your main points ?

readers might need ?

I Does your conclusion summarize I Do you have at least one the main points and restate the big graph for each point you are idea ofyour paper ?

using to support the big idea ?

Revising Look back through your paper to see whether you have any paragraphs that are confusing or packed too full with information . To make nations clearer , you may want to I take the facts or details from three or more sentences , I introduce them in one sentence , and I break them out into a bulleted or numbered list . Proofread and Publish Proofreading Special as italics , boldface , numbering , or help make your ideas clear . Using special formatting inconsistently , however , will only confuse your reader . As you proofread your paper , ask yourself these questions to look for formatting errors . I Have you used boldface or italic type for headings , important information , or key terms in a consistent ( unchanging ) way ?

I In a list of items , have you consistently used numbers or bullets ?

I In a list of numbered steps , have you missed any numbers ?

Publishing Share your explanation with students from another class . Ask them if your explanation makes sense to them . Practice and Apply Use the steps and strategies outlined in this workshop to write your explanation . Using Bulleted Lists The items in a bulleted list should always be in the same word forms or structures . Not the same the Great was important because he I supported education , I reorganization of government , I standardized weights . The same the important because he I supported education , I reorganized government , I standardized weights . WEST AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS