Premium Essay

West African Empires

Submitted By
Words 804
Pages 4
KEY TERMS:
Aztecs- A tribe of Warriors who dominated the Valley of Mexico, led by Hernán Cortés.
Also known as Western Historians.

Cahokia- Near modern day St. Louis, one of the largest urban centers by Mississippian people with 30,000 residents in 1250. Settlement based on agriculture.

Great League of Peace and Power- Confederation of five nations, formed in the fifteenth century to stop conflict and gain strength against enemies.

Songhai Empire- Powerful West-African state that flourished between 1450 and 1591, when it fell to Moroccan invasion. One of the highest empires of their time.

Reconquista- Long struggle that ended in 1492, which Spanish Christians reconquered the Iberian Peninsula from the Muslim occupiers.

Protestants- Europeans …show more content…
Many places began to grow and spread out. Soon many empires fell and this helped move people in the new environment. Many cultures moved and went into new land.

What are the key characteristics of West African society?

• Some characteristics of the West African societies are small compared to some that are humongous empires. Religion and family were a big factor in the lives of the people in the empire. Agriculture was a key-role of the means for making a living and being a craftsman was highly sought after.
• Since the West African societies were smaller they all helped each other. Men were the people who worked all day to provide for their families. Religion and family helped people get by and was important to many people. Europeans began to help one another and talk and find out about the gold trade in Africa, but this wasn’t fully engaged because they weren’t in full agreement with the Europeans.

How did events in Europe both shape and inspire exploration of the …show more content…
This helped inspire new religion beliefs. Soon the Europeans moved and it would change the New World and their beliefs. All of this would happen because of the reformation.

What were the biological consequences of contact between Europeans and Native Americans?

• The Spanish Army defeated the Aztec and Incan empires. With the help of the European diseases, they were becoming weaker, due to Native Americans defective immunity to contract illnesses easily. Germs are just one of the many consequences of possible contacts causing illnesses. This increased the number of Natives becoming sick and dying.
• Because of their deaths and the non-immunity of germs and other sicknesses this caused the Europeans to take control over the Natives. Because of all the diseases, many people tried to block or get away from them if they could help it. Through the contact they spread several diseases to everyone around them. Since the Spanish army defeated both of the empires they gained control.

Why did early French and English efforts at colonization

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Voudou

...Vodun is practiced by the Ewe people of eastern and southern Ghana, and southern and central Togo; and the Kabye people, Mina people, and Fon people of southern and central Togo, southern and central Benin. It is also practiced by some Gun people of Lagos and Ogun in southwest Nigeria. It is distinct from the various African traditional religions in the interiors of these countries and is the main source of religions with similar names found among the African Diaspora in the New World such as Haitian Vodou; Puerto Rican Vodú; Cuban Vodú; Dominican Vudú; Brazilian Vodum; and Louisiana Voodoo. All of these closely related faiths are syncretized with Christianity to various degrees and with the traditional beliefs of the Kongo people and Indigenous American traditions. Theology and practice Vodun cosmology centers around the vodun spirits and other elements of divine essence that govern the Earth, a hierarchy that range in power from major deities governing the forces of nature and human society to the spirits of individual streams, trees, and rocks, as well as dozens of ethnic vodun, defenders of a certain clan, tribe, or nation. The vodun are the center of religious life, similar in many ways to doctrines such as the intercession of saints and angels that made Vodun appear compatible with Christianity, especially Catholicism, and produced syncretic religions such as Haitian Vodou. Adherents also emphasize ancestor worship and hold that the spirits of the dead live side by...

Words: 1215 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Documents

...WAEC 85/3 THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL APPLICATION FORM This Form should be completed carefully and returned as directed. POST APPLIED FOR PART 1: 1. PERSONAL PARTICULARS 2. Surname of Applicant (Dr/Mr/Mrs/Miss)………………………………………………………………………………………. (BLOCK LETTERS) Other Names:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Sex………………………. Age………………………. Date of Birth…………………………………………………………… 3. Place of Birth………………………Nationality…………………State of Origin (in case of Nigerians)………………………. 4. Present Address……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5. E-mail Address………………………………………………………………Tel. Nos……………………………………………………….. 6. Permanent Address………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7. Marital Status……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8. Number and Ages of Children: Son(s) …………………………………. Daughter(s) …………………………… 9. Are you bonded to serve any government or other employers? Yes/No…………………………………… If YES give details: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. PART II: DETAILS OF EDUCATION 10(a) Primary (State names of Institutions) From To ……………………………………………………………………………… …………… …………….. …………………………………………………………………………….. …………… ……………… …………………………………………………………………………….. …………… ………………. 1 (b) From To ……………………………………………………………………………. ……………. ……………….. ……………………………………………………………………………. ……………...

Words: 393 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Issues with Jamb Online Registration in Nigeria

...JAMB AND ICT IN NIGERIA BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) is Nigeria's official entrance examination board for tertiary-level institutions. The examinations being administered are available for most students who choose to apply to Nigerian public and private Monotechnics, Colleges of Education, Polytechnics, and Universities. Most of these candidates must already have concluded their external examinations, administered either by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the Nigerian National Examinations Council (NECO). By 1974, there were seven federal universities in the country. Every one of these existing universities conducted its own concessional examination and admitted its students. However, this system of admission revealed serious limitations and quite often wastes of resources in the process of administering the concessional examination, especially on the part of the candidates. The general untidiness in the uncoordinated system of admissions into tertiary institutions and the attendant problems were sufficient cause for concern to the committee of vice chancellors in Nigeria. These problems had assumed new dimensions when by 1976, the then federal military government, under the leadership of General Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ, established six additional universities. Consequently, the government set up a national committee on university entrance under the chairmanship of Mr. M. S. Angulu to properly set up JAMB Examinations....

Words: 1679 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Iba4010

...NAMES :KIBE MAUREEN I.D NO: 632107 COURSE:IBA 4010 LECTURER:LUKA EPAINITO OBBANDA TASK : ASSIGNMENT 1 TITLE: TRADE BLOCS SEMESTER: FALL 2013 INTRODUCTION ECOWAS is an acronym to mean Economic Community of West African States whereas a trading bloc is a set of countries which engage in international trade together, and are usually related through a free trade agreement or other association.ECOWAS was established in May, 1975 as a regional institutional framework for the coordination and promotion of economic cooperation and sustainable development in West Africa. The challenges of economic develpoment in an underdeveloped and highly unstable environment such as west africa appear enormous and so leave one to ponder on the possibilty of success or otherwise in realizing such an idea. ESTABLISHMENT OF ECOWAS ECOWAS was established in 1975 to coordinate and promote trade,cooperation and sustainable development throughout West Africa.The signing of the ECOWAS treaty of Lagos was indeed a kind of radical response to the plague of poverty and underdevelopment bedeviling West Africa, and as a result, practically provided the much desired framework for the realization of rapid and sustainable socio-political and economic development throughout the sub-region, and has till date the following member states: Republic of Benin,Burkina Faso,Cape Verde,Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia,Ghana,Guinea,Guinea Bissau,Liberia,Mali,Niger,Nigeria,Senegal,Sierra Leone and the Republic of...

Words: 1149 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Proudly Nigerian

...I am proud to be a Nigerian; Nigeria is one of the largest countries in Africa, got independence October 1st, 1960 and became a republic 1963. After a couple of years, we saw the raise of the civilian war, then the military came and took over power the people of Nigeria felt abit suppressed but through all this means we survived, we stayed on top. The late 90’s gave birth to democracy in Nigeria but still we struggled to adjust once more, still took a firm stand and progress through these hard times. Nigeria, strong people, happy people you cannot deny that, even the Guinness book of record tagged us one of the happiest nation in the world. Throughout this time, a few people gave us a bad name saying we had the people who stole money and people who gave the impression of the world that we are bad people, angry people and scam artiste. It seems like things where not going to get better but with the appearance of a great man late president umar musa yar’adua things started to change, Nigeria started to get better, the youth were given the voice, the people began to speak out, our nation began to enjoy its riches, our agriculture stood out, our land is exceedingly fertile, with limitless depositions of mineral resources scattered all over the country. Name it; crude oil, gold, iron ore, limestone, salt, bitumen, coal, clay, tin, cotton? We have them all. Not to mention hundreds of produce able cash and food crops. Moreover, Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa, and 7th...

Words: 556 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Sanitation in Ghana

...Medium Term Prospects of the Economy ’’ For copies of the Statement, please contact the Public Relations Office of the Ministry: Ministry of Finance Public Relations Office New Building, Ground Floor, Room 001/003 P. O. Box MB 40 Accra – Ghana The 2015 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana is also available on the internet at: www.mofep.gov.gh ~ iii ~ Theme: “Transformational Agenda: Securing the Bright Medium Term Prospects of the Economy ’’ ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ABFA ACLP ADR AFCON AfDB AIDS AML AMSECs APR ATMA AVIC BACs BDS BIEPC BoG BOP bopd bps BR BRICS BSPs BVDs Annual Budget Funding Amount Ascertainment and Codification of Customary Law Project Alternative Dispute Resolution African Cup of Nations African Development Bank Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Anti-Money laundering Agricultural Mechanization Services Enterprise Centres Annual Progress Report Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area Accra Visitor Information Centre Business Advisory Centres Business Development Services Bawku Inter Ethnic Peace Committee Bank of Ghana Balance of Payments barrels of oil per day basis points Benchmark Revenue Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa Bulk Supply Points Biometric Verification Devices ~ iv ~ Theme: “Transformational Agenda: Securing the Bright Medium Term Prospects of the Economy ’’ BVR CAGD CBE CDB CEDECOM CENDLOS...

Words: 63016 - Pages: 253

Free Essay

History of Benin

...government.[citation needed] The last of these brought to power Major Mathieu Kérékou as the head of a regime professing strict Marxist-Leninist principles.[2] By 1975 the Republic of Dahomey changed its name to the People's Republic of Benin.[3] The People's Revolutionary Party of Benin (PRPB) remained in complete power until the beginning of the 1990s. Kérékou, encouraged by France and other democratic powers, convened a national conference that introduced a new democratic constitution and held presidential and legislative elections. Kérékou's principal opponent at the presidential poll, and the ultimate victor, was Prime Minister Nicéphore Soglo. Supporters of Soglo also secured a majority in the National Assembly.[4] Benin was thus the first African country to effect successfully the transition from dictatorship to a pluralistic political system.[5] In the second round of National Assembly elections held in March 1995, Soglo's political vehicle, the Parti de la Renaissance du Benin, was the largest single party but lacked an overall majority. The success of a party formed by supporters of ex-president Kérékou, who had officially retired from active politics, allowed him to stand successfully at both the 1996 and 2001 presidential elections.[4] During the 2001 elections, however, alleged irregularities and dubious practices led to a boycott of the run-off poll by the main opposition candidates. The four top-ranking contenders following the first round presidential elections were...

Words: 614 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Regional Integration for and Against

...Regional Integration for and Against (For)- The ECOWAS is The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen countries, founded in 1975. Its mission is to promote economic integration in development strategies of the countries ("Discover Ecowas", 2007). Some economic changes would include agriculture, natural resources, and telecommunications. Advantages are regional economic integration plays an important role in the economic process and property development in West Africa. The availability of job production will increase with better economic opportunities that could be limited without access to modern energy. Energy is an important part of the system that allows the poor to grow beyond, which will generate and increase their demand for modern energy services. Increasing foreign direct investment will increase competition among poverty stricken countries around the world. They would need to gain environmental, and social economical use of resources. Market growth will promote larger specialization and quicker industry through economies of scale. The development in domestic and foreign direct investment will increase competition of the region within the world economy. Speedy and in depth improvement through increased competition among the collaborating countries will enhance incentives for the readying of recent technologies and strategies of production aboard speedy innovation. Greater regional co-operation in infrastructure comes like energy...

Words: 527 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Erp for Lra

...Deploying the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) Computerize System to Enhance Tax Collection at the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Proposal Topic: This paper will look at the manner in which tax is collected by the Government of Liberia (GOL) through the newly established Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) and the impact on the revenue generating capacity of the and proposes possible solutions. Currently, the LRA is using Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) computerize system for its tax collection. This is in line with practices adopted by other countries in the sub-region which comprise countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ASYCUDA was launch in Liberia in July 2009 in order to modernize the tax collection and boast the GOL revenue capacity. However, ASYCUDA has only been launched in Monrovia, where the country has it major port – the Freeport of Monrovia. There has been no significant increase in revenue collection since the launch of the system. Problem: The business problem to so is how to make ASYCUDA available to all ports of entry, train the manpower to operate the computerize system and how to keep it operational in handling volume of transactions regularly. Other ports and custom posts in the country are still using the manual system for tax collection. The manual system provides poor customer service and inconvenience for goods clearance. It also exposes government revenue to theft. The deployment of the ASYCUDA computerize...

Words: 607 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

The Effect of Ebola

...The first reported case in the Ebola outbreak ravaging west Africa dates back to December 2013, in Guéckédou, a forested area of Guinea near the border with Liberia and Sierra Leone. Travelers took it across the border: by late March, Liberia had reported eight suspected cases and Sierra Leone six. By the end of June 759 people had been infected and 467 people had died from the disease, making this the worst ever Ebola outbreak. The numbers do not just keep climbing, they are accelerating. As of October 29th, 13,567 cases and 4,951 deaths had been reported worldwide, the vast majority of them in these same three countries. Many suspect these estimates are badly undercooked. Ebola is not just a medical emergency, but an economic one. Sick people cannot work; fear of sickness keeps others from coming to work. Transportation and travel is disrupted. An impact assessment by the World Bank, released on October 8th, estimated the short-term impact of the outbreak on the economies of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in terms of forgone GDP at $359m. Depending on whether the outbreak is contained quickly or slowly, the damage will continue into next year; under the Bank’s gloomier “High Ebola” scenario, the economic loss to Liberia in 2015 would be the equivalent of 12% of GDP. Liberia has suffered most in the epidemic, which has killed more than 3,800 people and delivered an economic shock to some of Africa's most vulnerable economies. Ebola cases in Liberia and Sierra Leone could...

Words: 524 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

East and West African Socities

...Inayah Shabazz May 5th, 2013 Within Ancient Africa the East and West African Societies were well known.  The three west African empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai arose in the Sahel and grew strong by the power of trade and cultural diffusion. In the east villages along the east coast begin to develop important trading cities along the east coast such as Kilwa, and The Great Zimbabwe. Together both the East and West African Societies each had many similarities and differences that each made them unique but brought them together through the power of both trade and cultural diffusion. The empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai controlled West Africa between A.D. 1000 and 1500. Each empire thrived on the trade of goods across the Sahara and was affected by the exchange of culture and belief systems along the trade routes. As each empire declined, the next empire took its place. Many great kings led these empires for example, Mali's Mansa Musa helped spread West African culture and resources around the world through his hajj.  The empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai developed on trade networks where culture was "traded" along with salt and gold.  Like the empires of West Africa, the trading cities in East Africa grew wealthy by controlling all incoming and outgoing trade. In East Africa the city state Kilwa became the wealthiest, most powerful coastal city-state. Kilwa grew rich because it was as far south on the coast as a ship from India could sail in one monsoon season. Therefore...

Words: 491 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

African Kingdoms

...1 African Kingdoms I. General Overview a. The single most important development in the history of northwestern Africa was the use of the camel as a transport vehicle. In ancient times, the Egyptians and Carthaginians engaged in just a trickle of commercial trade with west Africa, even though west Africa was rich in gold, precious metals, ivory, and other resources. b. The reason for this was the imposing barrier of the Sahara, which in Arabic simply means "The Desert." Around 750 AD, under the influence of Islamic peoples, northern and western Africans began to use the camel to transport goods across this forbidding terrain. c. Camels do several things exceptionally well: they can carry unbelievably heavy loads for impossibly long distances and they can keep their footing on sandy terrain. It was as if someone had invented sand ships and its effect on western African culture was just as profound as if they were sand ships. d. The most important developments occurred in the Sahel area just south of the Sahara; the Sahel provided southern terminal points for the goods being shipped across the Sahara. The Sahel is a dry, hot area with fertile areas and grasslands; all of the major north African kingdoms grew up in this area: Ghana, Mali, Songhay, and Kanem-Bornu: the Sahelian kingdoms. SLIDE: African Empire Chronology SLIDE: Key terms SLIDE: Map of Africa II. Sahelian kingdoms a. The largest African cities and kingdoms were located in the Sahel, a desert and savannah region south...

Words: 3912 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Scramble

...How far do you agree with the view that strategic factors were the main reason in expanding the British Empire? It could be rightfully said that strategic factors where one of the main reasons for the expansion of the British Empire. However it could as well be argued that Britain had other motives for expanding their empire, such as for their own economic gain or because of their belief of self-superiority. It could be argued that strategic factors were a reason in expanding the British Empire. Prior to 1869 there was no expansionist intent however in 1869 when the French had built the Suez Canal, the canal attracted Britain as it represented a vital trade route to India and was of extreme importance strategically. was a country of economic interest and they had to control the canal as a means of protecting India and all of its economic advantages Britain This gave Egypt economic importance and the government devolved into British hands Furthermore it following the nationalist riots led by colonel Arabi, Egyptian nationalism began to emerge. Egypt was part of the Turkish Empire and Egyptians began to want freedom from the Turkish. Britain feared if they were to free themselves from Turkish rule they would form alliances with other European countries, minimising Britain’s influence. Although this could be said that this was a political reason why they expanded into North Africa Additionally strategic factors were Britain’s main reason for expansion in the south Following...

Words: 1117 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Africas Contribution to the Development of Diplomacy

...Introduction The neglect, for a long time, of African contribution to modern diplomacy, by scholars and the failure to forcefully project the history and image of Africa, exposed the continent to uncharitable, disparaging and judgemental comments by Eurocentric historians who denied African history. However, the notion in certain quarters that Africans were not capable of engaging in any systematic and sophisticated art of diplomacy is to a large extent not true. (Adegbulu, 2011) Foreign Relations in Global Perspective. Diplomacy is the fundamental means by which foreign relations are conducted and a foreign policy implemented, far from being the invention of capitalism or of the modern nation state, is found in some of the most primitive communities and seems to have evolved independently by peoples in all parts of the world. The basic object of diplomacy is to enable men to live with their neighbours, a feat which requires a measure of accommodation to the interests of others. Above all, they are the questions of peace and war, and then such matters as the conclusion and observance of treatise, the making, maintenance and breaking of alliances, the establishment of boundaries, the development and protection of trade and the payment of tribute. The means by which these are pursued need to be adjusted to changing circumstances, but the employment of accredited agents (diplomatists) to represent and to negotiate on behalf of a state or society seems to be...

Words: 1897 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Islam in North Africa

... Islam was born in the Hijaz in the 7th century and expanded to the rest of the Middle East where its key institutions were established. Simultaneously, it went through a rapid wave of expansion and eventually reached the African continent though North Africa and was progressively embraced in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, we cannot say there was such a thing as a unique process of expansion of Islam because an African identity was inexistent. Indeed, the continent and especially our area of focus, consisting of North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, was composed of different regions defined by their ethnicity and their ancestry. Furthermore, the physical separation created by the Sahara desert also played a major role into accentuating the disparities. We will explore here, how the introduction of Islam in both regions differed significantly and how in the secondary phase of “rooting” of the faith, this key difference in the first contacts the religion had in these two regions led to the establishment of two distinct Islams. Finally, we will demonstrate that when we look beyond the complexity of both processes, they ultimately share many similarities. The main difference in the process of arrival of Islam in North Africa and Sub-Saharan African is displayed by the rapidity of expansion. Whereas by 720, North Africa was controlled by the Muslims, the adoption of Islam below the Sahara appeared to be more slowly paced and gradual.There exists such a disparity because of...

Words: 3166 - Pages: 13