Ghana: A West African Trading Empire

1. Ghana: A West African Trading Empire Chapter 13

2. The first of West Africa’s empires • 500 C.E. Until 1240 C.E. • Semidry Sahel to valley between Senegal and Niger Rivers • To the south forest • To the north Sahara Desert • Earliest writings from travelers to and from Arab countries • Not know how developed into an empire • Ghana means “war chief” • Control of trade made them very wealthy

3. Ghana’s Government and Military • Known as land of gold with a strong government and large and powerful army • King and his government • King head of army and in charge of justice • head of religious worship • Controlled gold trade • Collected taxes and controlled supply of all gold coming in and out of Ghana • Held court everyday • people could only have gold dust not chunks – those belong to the king • Arrived to the beating of royal drums • Dressed in colorful robes, gold jewelry and cap decorated in gold • People show respect by kneeling and throwing dust on their head • officials in charge of different parts of society • Armed forces, industry, taxes and foreigners • Used governors to rule some parts of empire • Royal inheritance was matrilineal (followed the woman’s bloodline) son of king’s sister took over throne

4. Ghana’s military • Included regular army, • Several thousand career soldiers – kept borders secure, put down minor revolts maintained peace and order • Wore knee-length cotton pants and sleeveless long shirts, sandals and headdresses decorated with feathers • Color of uniform and number of feathers indicated his rank • Used spears, daggers, swords, battle clubs, and bows and arrows • Well paid and well respected • reserve forces • Called in time of war • Every man required to complete military training so could serve • elite forces • Selected for courage, honesty and intelligence • Served as bodyguards, escorts and military advisors

5. Located between two areas that wanted to trade • Trans-Sahara trade route • North Africa – salt, copper and cowrie shells (used as money) • Southern forests of West Africa – leather, ivory, gold, and slaves • Active before 500 B.C.E. • The camel and the spread of Islam promoted trade • Drink 25 gallons at a time – travel several days without stopping for water • Have double row of eyelashes and hairy ear openings to keep out blowing sand • These allowed travel over the desert • Gold for Roman coins came from Africa • Muslims wanted to control trade in West Africa • Ghana turned back the invaders – but many Muslims settled and became merchants • Journey difficult – would travel right after the rainy season ended – went from oasis to oasis – would kill camels and drink their water – 2 months goods moved by camel, donkey and porter Trade: the source of Ghana’s wealth

6. Gold-salt trade • North Africans wanted gold – (south) forest people wanted salt from Sahara • Ghana made money from taxes charged on both • Wangara: the secret source of gold • Gold a symbol of wealth • Coins made from gold • China would only accept gold for trade goods • Located near the forests south of Ghana – but only the Wangara knew where it was – to this day no one is sure where the mines were. • Taghaza: village built with salt • Salt more precious than gold • Important part of diet • People and animals sweat and lose salt that must be replaced • Keep food from spoiling • 2 ways to produce salt -1)evaporation 2) mining salt deposits (3 feet below the surface of earth • A dismal place – nothing grew – built everything out of salt

7. Ghana’s system of taxes • Traders paid taxes to Ghana on all goods carried through empire • When they entered Ghana and when they left • 1/6 oz of gold for every load of salt from the north • 1/3 oz of gold for every load of salt that left to the south • Taxes enriched Ghana treasury and pay for armies that protected kingdom and allowed to conquer other territories. • Kept trade routes safe

8. Exchange of goods • Brought goods to great market place in Kumbi • Ironsmiths – weapons and tools, goldsmiths and coppersmiths – jewelry, weavers – cloth, leatherworkers, could buy cattle, sheep, honey, wheat, raisins, dried fruit, ivory, pearls and slaves ( all paid for in gold dust) • Had a large slave market • Wangarans trade took place at the river and with silent barter. (Activity) traders brought goods to river and laid them out – a drum announced that they were making an offer to trade – they left and went several miles down river to wait for a response – the Wangarans heard the drum and came by boat to see offer they put gold next to the goods and beat the drum – if the amount was acceptable a trade had been made • This allowed people of different languages to trade and the Wangarans to keep their secret

9. Decline of Ghana and the rise of Mali • War and loss of natural resources led to Ghana’s downfall. • Muslim warriors (Almoravids) attacked the empire in 1076 captured Kumbi – 10 years later recaptured Kumbi but fall had started. • Growing population put stress on natural resources (trees and water) • 1240 a rival kingdom took over and Mali rose (Mande built an empire) closer to Niger River • Gained wealth from trade – was a larger area than Ghana • Leaders accepted Islam Mansa Musa depicted holding a gold nugget, from the 1375 Catalan Atlas.

10. Summary • Trade played a key role in growth of kingdoms and empires of West Africa • Ghana was the first empire • They had a powerful government and strong army • Located between North and South Africa and controlled the trans-Sahara trade • Became wealthy by charging taxes to all coming in and out of empire • Years of war and loss of resources led to downfall in 13th century • Next great empire was Mali – it too built its wealth on trade.