West Africа wаs оne оf the wоrld's greаtest producers of gold in the Middle Ages. One of the first sub-Saharan states to gain attention was the Ghana Empire. Ghana became famous for its gold, earning itself the nickname the 'land of gold.' Gold was commonly used to buy was salt, a mineral that was in great demand to preserve dried meat and to add taste to food. The empire began to crumble in the 12th and 13th centuries due to a combination of climate change (prolonged droughts) and ecological damage, which ruined agriculture. After the decline of Ghana, the Mali Empire gained access to new goldfields and its kings became even wealthier. As the commercial networks of West African states extended, great trading cities arose like Timbuktu. The stories of an African city paved in gold, the fabled city of Timbuktu, inspired explorers and adventurers for centuries. Islam was spread through West Africa by Arab merchants who traded there. Mali's most famous ruler was Mansa Musa. After converting to Islam, Mansa Musa went on a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324. During his travels, the king's wealth in gold caused an absolute sensation. In some accounts, Mansa Musa's caravan included 100 camels which carried 300 pounds of gold dust. Mansa Musa gave away so much gold and spent so much shopping in the markets that it would take 12 years for the flooded gold market in Egypt to recover. In the 1360s, the empire was ruled by a string of short-lived, cruel, or incompetent rulers. The Mali Empire collapsed in the 1460s following civil wars and the rise of the Songhai Empire. The Songhai Empire was the largest and most powerful state in West African history. Timbuktu became one of the greatest intellectual and cultural centers in the medieval world. Its universities attracted thousands of scholars from across the Islamic world who studied astronomy, mathematics, medicine, law, and philosophy. QUESTIONS: 1. According to the reading, what led to the rise of West African states in the middle ages? Use specific examples. 2. What conditions led to their downfall?? Your answer must be in your own words- do not use direct quotes. Your answer must be a minimum of 75 words.
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