The kingdoms of the Sahel
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how trade across the Sahel made West African Kingdoms richer, but also brought some problems.
Key learning points
- 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.
Keywords
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 misconception
European merchants arrived in West Africa with the intention of starting to enslave people.
European merchants were attracted by the potential amount of gold they would be able to trade in West Africa.
Teacher tip
When explaining the problems that emerged in the Sahel, make clear that not all kingdoms fell apart - as Songhay is an example of a kingdom that flourish in this time. Therefore, European merchants arrived at a time of great change in West Africa.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Where in the world would you find the Kingdom of Mali?
Q2.When European explorers and merchants arrived in West Africa in the 1400s, what did they plan to do?
Q3.Which of the following kingdoms were located in West Africa?
Q4.Which religion was spreading from the Middle East to West Africa in the 13th and 14th centuries?
Q5.Which of the following explains what makes a kingdom stronger?
Q6.Put these events in chronological order, starting with the earliest.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the words with the correct definitions.
a dry region bordering the southern Sahara Desert
the word used in the Kingdom of Mali to refer to the ruler
to show strong religious commitment
when ideas and knowledge are shared by word of mouth
a group of merchants on a long journey through the desert
Q2.What word describes someone who shows strong religious commitment?
Q3.Which of the following best explains what Mansa Musa is remembered for?
Q4.How many royal servants did Mansa Musa take with him on his pilgrimage to Mecca?
Q5.Which of the following were major problems in the Sahel?
Q6.What have historians focused on in the absence of written records about some West African kingdoms?
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: The kingdoms of the Sahel, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: The kingdoms of the Sahel, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Transatlantic Slavery: how were West African societies impacted? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.