Ghana

• Lush forest, animal diversity
• used gold as currency
• traded gold and salt
• traded with Europeans, British, Portuguese, and the Dutch
• changed to trading slaves for more money
• trade increased wealth
• exports included cacao beans, gold, and salt
• imports included salt
• current Ghana gained independence on March 6, 1957
• independence movement led by Kwame Nkrumah, and inspired other places to become independent

Boateng, Ernest Amano, and Oliver Davies. "Ghana." Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc, 13 Jan. 2017. www.britannica.com/place/Ghana. Accessed 10 Mar. 2017.

Mali

• emerged in savannah between rain forests and sahara
• had territory between Atlantic and Lake Chad (1800 miles)
• used rich floodland from Niger as farmland
• formed by sundiata
• practiced Islam
• most famous ruler was Mansa Musa
• current Mali tries to diversify economy and reduce poverty and government spending
• tax improved

Ducksters. "Empire of Ancient Mali." www.ducksters.com, Technological Solutions, Inc., www.ducksters.com/history/africa/empire-of-ancient-mali.php. Accessed 7 Mar. 2017

The Heritage Foundation. "Mali." Mali Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption, The Heritage Foundation, www.heritage.org/index/country/mali. Accessed 8 Mar. 2017

Songhai

• last and biggest of three western empires
• Gao, the capital, is famous for Askia's tomb
• Gao was founded around 800 A.D.
• belonged to Malian Empire, but Gao rebelled in 1375
• captured Timbuktu in 1468, three years after conquering Mema
• Sunni thought of as greatest ruler
• period of peace started after Askia's death in 1528 and ended in 1591
• empire had been divided into five provinces, led by a governer
• Islam had been introduced in 1019
• Songhai no longer exists, and in its place is Niger

CIA Factbook. "Ciafactbook.us." Ciafactbook.us, CIA, www.ciafactbook.us/africa/niger.html. Accessed 8 Mar. 2017

Benin

• unique art
• world famous carved wooden masks
• trading was a respected and important buisness
• non-cruel. If someone stole but returned the good or one of equal value, there would be no punishment
• slaves were treated well and could earn their way out of slavery
• capable army
• no formal schooling
• Eweka was first king
• Ewuare the Great was great warrior who expanded territory
• state cults used human sacrafise in religious observances
• current Benin practices voodoo, are underdeveloped, and corrupt
• one world's poorest countries

Donn, Lin. "Ancient AfricanKingdom of Benin. "The Fascinating Kingdom of Benin-Ancient Africa for Kids, Africa.mrdonn.org/benin.html. Accessed 9 Mar. 2017

BBC. "Benin Country Profile." BBC News, BBC, 26 Jan. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13037572. Accessed 8 Mar. 2017