The kingdoms of the Sahel
I can explain how trade across the Sahel made West African Kingdoms richer, but also brought some problems.
The kingdoms of the Sahel
I can explain how trade across the Sahel made West African Kingdoms richer, but also brought some problems.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
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.
To help you plan your year 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 year 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.
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 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