Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about the kingdoms of the Sahel and how the arrival of European traders in the region began to destabilise West Africa. Pupils build a deep knowledge of Transatlantic Slavery whilst retaining a focus on the impacts it had in West Africa.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how trade across the Sahel made West African Kingdoms richer, but also brought some problems.

Key Notes

• The Sahel was home to kingdoms rich in culture and wealth such as Mali, Kano and Mossi.
• The Sahel was rich in gold which was the basis of trade between West African kingdoms and Islamic states.
• West African kingdoms traded gold in exchange for textiles, meaning a unequal trade with wealth leaving West Africa.
• The trade across the Sahel attracted thieves and robbers increasing violence in the region.
• Europeans arrived in West Africa from the 1440s looking for gold.

Vocabulary To Learn

• the Sahel: the Sahel is a dry region bordering the southern Sahara Desert
• Mansa: Mansa is the word used in the kingdom of Mali to refer to the ruler
• devout: to be devout is to show strong religious commitment
• oral tradition: oral tradition is a form of communication where ideas and knowledge are shared by word of mouth
• caravan: a caravan is a group of merchants travelling together on a long journey through a desert

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• European merchants arrived in West Africa with the intention of starting to enslave people.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• British involvement in Transatlantic Slave Trade Study Guide
• The arrival of European traders in West Africa Study Guide
• The expansion of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Study Guide
• The impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade on West African society Study Guide
• The structure of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Study Guide