Ghana

 

 

Even though Ghana emerged as a state in circa 300 AD and came to wealth and prominence as a result of its trade in salt and gold.  It did not become a major regional power till near the end of the millennium.

 

Although originally formed by Berbers eventually the state became dominated by the Soninke, a Mande speaking people living in the region bordering the Sahara.  As a result of this the kingdom never converted to Islam, even though northern Africa had been dominated by the faith since the early eighth century. 

 

Fueled by its economic vitality, the kingdom of Ghana rapidly expanded into an empire.  Due to its strategic positioning between the Niger and the Senegal Rivers the empire was able to control the waterways as well as two main trans-Saharan trade routes.  These routes stretched north to Morocco and Libya and west to the Bornu region, which connected to the Nile trade routes.

 

Ghana became wealthy by collecting taxes from traders who passed through the kingdom.  They also managed the gold trade despite the fact that the empire had few natural resources of their own.  All of the gold and salt mines lay beyond their borders but they had very good crafting skills with iron.  They coated the tips of their weapons to subdue their neighbors.

 

At the peak of the empires power, Ghana’s population of several million people occupied a territory of about 250,000 square miles.  A 200,000-man army containing about 40,000 archers helped to maintain the kings power.  Ghana practiced a matrilineal pattern of kingship.  The king was the Son of the previous kings sister.

 

In 1076 AD a Berber army from Morocco led by religious reformers called Almoravids attacked in what they called a Jihad or Holy War.  By 1087 the Ghana Empire had lost control.  It disintegrated into several smaller states including Kangaba that later became the empire of Mali.