New civilisations in the Sahel
I can explain why new civilisations, such as the Mali Empire, emerged across the Sahel.
New civilisations in the Sahel
I can explain why new civilisations, such as the Mali Empire, emerged across the Sahel.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- New civilisations grew up in the Sahel as the Ghana Empire declined and trade increased.
- Trade from new gold fields bypassed the Ghana Empire, which made other kingdoms in the region wealthy and powerful.
- The Mali Empire was one new civilisation which expanded.
- The rulers of Mali and the people who lived in cities were generally followers of Islam.
- The people who lived in the countryside generally retained their traditional religious practices.
Keywords
Empire - a group of territories ruled over by one person or group of people
Trade - exchange of goods
Mansa - the word used in the Mali Empire to refer to the king or emperor
Islam - the religion of Muslim people
Common misconception
All followers of the same religion practise their religion in the same way.
There are often large differences between followers of the same religion: people include elements of their own culture in their worship.
To help you plan your year 7 history lesson on: New civilisations in the Sahel, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 7 history lesson on: New civilisations in 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 Medieval West Africa: why was medieval Mali so successful? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a strict Islamic group
first great empire of West Africa
ruled by a sorcerer king
led by Sundiata Keita
a group of territories ruled over by one person or group of people
exchange of goods
the word used in the Mali Empire to refer to the king or emperor
the religion of Muslim people