During the time span of the Ghana Empire, Islam was introduced to the area. The Ghana Empire was very populated and had many people from outside the kingdom travel through in order to trade with those from the Kingdom of Ghana or to trade with other outsiders, making Ghana a focal point trading center. 1) In what way was the empire of Ghana different from the later empire of Mali ? until 1200s. Leaders of the ancient kingdom of Ghana accumulated wealth by keeping the core of pure metal, leaving the unworked native gold to be marketed by their people. The Kings of Ghana refused and soon came under constant attacks from Northern Africa. Okomfo Anokye, original name Kwame Anokye Frimpon Kotobre, (born c. 1655, Akwapim, Akwamu kingdom [now in Ghana]—died 1717?, Akwapim? At the same time, a group of people called the Susu broke free of Ghana. The Ghana Empire or Wagadou Empire (existed before c. 830 until c. 1235) was located in what is now southeastern Mauritania, and Western Mali. As you can see today, the Ghana Empire was actually located about 400 miles northwest of current Ghana, and was significantly bigger. That is so fascinating. Being home to roughly 100 linguistic and cultural groups, it comes as no surprise that it has a wide variety of beliefs and myths. But even earlier than the trading that went on between east and west Africa, the kingdom of Ghana acted as guards for the traders from the north, and the traders from the south. The ancient kingdom of Ghana was a key part of the Trans-Sahara Trade Route. The governor of the city sits on the ground before the king and around him are ministers seated likewise. Ghana was said to be a sophisticated state with advanced methods of administration and taxation, large armies, large population, and lots of gold. ( Log Out /  The king’s palace was the grandest structure in the city, surrounded by “domed buildings.” The other section of the city, which was the primary business district, was surrounded by wells with fresh water, where vegetables were grown. The king was able to enforce obedience from lesser groups and to exact tribute from them. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/ owner is strictly prohibited. The imports included textiles, ornaments, and other materials. No, I am not talking about the modern-day country of Ghana, which used to be called the Gold Coast and was named in honor of the great long-gone Ghana Empire by its first president, Kwame Nkrumah. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dr. Y. and www.afrolegends.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Around their necks they wear collars of gold and silver studded with a number of balls of the same metals.”. Background Information on Ghana • Kingdom of Ghana lasted from 500C.E. The Moorish nobleman who visited the empire in the 11th century, Al-Bakri, wrote of the king: “He sits in audience or to hear grievances against officials in a domed pavilion around which stand ten horses covered with gold-embroidered materials. The Empire appears to have broken up following the 1076 conquest by the Almoravid General Abu-Bakr Ibn-Umar.A reduced kingdom continued to exist after Almoravid rule ended, and the kingdom was later … To find out more, please check out these articles on BBC, and the Ghana Empire (Ancient History Encyclopedia), and the books General History of Africa, Vol. Akan people are now migrating freely into former Old Ghana territory, if they had not already been doing so since about 700. A blog about African history, and heritage, through audio and video files. The Ghana Empire ( c. 300 until c. 1100), properly known as Wagadou ( Ghana being the title of its ruler), was a West African empire located in the area of present-day southeastern Mauritania and western Mali. So the main reasons that Ghana fell are: There was one war after another so Ghana couldn’t recover. Required fields are marked *. In the mid-16th century, Mohammed abu Bakr al-Wangari, an Islamic scholar from the town of Djenné, migrated north to Timbuktu , then a city of perhaps 100,000 and a religious, educational and trading center, and founded the University of Sankoré, a loose affiliation of mosques and private homes that provided subsidized. ( Log Out /  3, Africa from the Seventh to the Eleventh Century, Diego Maradona, The Golden One, and Africa, GoodBye to Amadou Toumani Touré (ATT) -Former President of Mali, So Long to J.J. Rawlings: Former President of Ghana, Proverbe sur les grandes choses apportant de grands obstacles / Proverb on Great Things bringing in Great Hurdles, Chameleon last seen a Century Ago in Madagascar found again, Proverbe Camerounais sur la Descendance / Cameroonian Proverb on Offsprings, The Alok Ikom Stone Monoliths of Nigeria and Cameroon, 1800 years old Ancient Monoliths from Cameroon Seized by US Customs, Description of Clothing in the Ghana Empire, Adinkra Symbols and the Rich Akan Culture, 'Love Poem for my Country' by Sandile Dikeni. What is the capital of Ghana? Local deposits of copper were exploited and used for trade, while metalworking in the region, as indicated by archaeological finds, dates back to at least the 6th century CE. Different tribes governed until the French took over in 1893, a situation that lasted until it became part of the current Republic of Mali in 1960. The official currency is the Ghana Cedi, converting to about $ 0.23 for 1 GC.Despite the currency being denominated in July 2007, most street vendors and traders still operate in terms of the defunct old Cedi, quoting prices by the thousands much to the chagrin of the new currency users. The important natural resources of the Songhai Empire were gold and salt . The etymology of the name Ghana means "Warrior King" and was the title accorded to the kings of the medieval Ghana Empire in West Africa, but the empire was further north than the modern nation of Ghana, in the region of Guinea. Ghana is a West African country with a coastline on the Gulf of Guinea and occupies a total area of 239,567 sq. This tradition is shared throughout West Africa due to Akan Influence, from Benin/Dahomey (Fon) and Togo (Ewe), to the Ga, to other West Africans and throughout the African diaspora. Ancient Ghana had a very powerful government that ruled over many less worthy kingdoms. The old empire of Ghana is located about 400 miles northwest of modern day Ghana. Arab traders brought what religion to the kingdom of Ghana ? They ate a lot of grass and food leaving soil exposed to desert winds. The name of his predecessor was Basi and he became their ruler at the age of 85. There are two colleges in the kingdom: Wiawso College of Education and Asafo Health Care College. It sat between the Senegal and Niger Rivers and encompassed the area now called southeastern Mauritania and western Mali. He led a praiseworthy life on account of his love of justice and friendship for the Muslims. This lesson will take a look at these three kingdoms. Around their necks they wear collars of gold and silver studded with a number of balls of the same metals. Its real name was Wagadou, but is known mostly by the title given to its ruler, the Ghana. Called Wagadu by its rulers, it derived its more familiar name from the king’s title of ghāna. Presently, Timbuktu is impoverished and suffers from desertification. Ghana was patrilineal, and Mali followed a matrilineal system. However, the Sosso would be a short-lived kingdom as their king Sumanguru (aka Sumaoro Kante, r. from c. 1200 CE) was defeated by Sundiata Keita in 1235 CE. In reality, they are two places with the same name. Ghana appears to have had a central core region and was surrounded by vassal states. "Ghana" was actually the title given to Wagadugu kings and was used by the Islamic "reporters" to describe the rich and mysterious place they observed. The introduction of the camel to the region around the 3rd century AD opened the way to increased and more efficient trans-Saharan trade. © Dr. Y. and www.afrolegends.com, [2009-2020]. The king of the Soninke people who founded Ghana never fully embraced Islam, but had very good relations with Muslims. By at least 800 CE, a handful of kingdoms and empires were forming in Africa, three of which were located in West Africa, relatively close to each other. A medieval African kingdom in what is now eastern Senegal, southwest Mali, and southern Mauritania. Ghana was essentially a melting pot, spreading ideas, culture, technology and other aspects of what makes different societies what they were. Al-Bakri mentioned that the king had officials (mazalim) who surrounded his throne when he gave justice, and these included the sons of the “kings of his country” which are presumably the same kings that al-Ya’qubi mentioned in his account nearly two hundred years earlier. Ghana was mostly animists, and Mali had a Muslim-following leadership. The nation of Ghana in Africa was named for the ancient Ghana Empire, or Kingdom. He ascended the throne in [1063]. Ghana Currency. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Ghana was ruled by Malinke leaders, and Mali was ruled by Soninke. The Ghana Empire predates the modern-day country of Ghana by almost a millennium; it went from ca 300 to 1100 AD. As observed on the map above, Ghana is dissected by the largest artificial lake on the planet (Lake Volta), nearly 50% of Ghana lies less than 152 meters above sea level. At the door of the pavilion are dogs of excellent pedigree that hardly ever leave the place where the king is, guarding him. ( Log Out /  The region was rich in gold, and its ac… Post was not sent - check your email addresses! by Delafosse, Maurice (1912) in 3 Volumes, Paris, and the article The question of Ghana, Journal of the International African Institute, Mauny R., 24 (3): 200–213. The Empire of Ghana had many trade routes, and a very well-trained military to protect them, which encouraged further safe commerce and exchanges in the region. More than that, your gifts will do … Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. This made farmers leave ghana. These were the three kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. As expected, the main center of trade was Koumbi Saleh. Locate a map of the Kingdom of Ghana and paste it in the answer box below. The empire of Ghana was established around 300 CE by the Soninke people. When Ghana’s ruling dynasty began is uncertain, it is first mentioned in documentary sources around 830 CE. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. In 1960, Timbuktu became part of the independent country of Mali. in west Africa. Ghana was the first West African empire. El-Fasi, M., UNESCO (1998), Haut-Sénégal-Niger: Le Pays, les Peuples, les Langues; l’Histoire; les Civilizations. Al-Bakri‘s detailed geography of the region shows that in his day, or 1067/1068, Ghana was surrounded by independent kingdoms, and Sila, one of them located on the Senegal River, was “almost a match for the king of Ghana.” Sama is the only such entity mentioned as a province, as it was in al-Ya’qubi’s day. These “kings” were presumably the rulers of the territorial units often called kafu in Mandinka. Your email address will not be published. mi. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Modern day Ghana took the name of the famous ancient kingdom when they became the first African State to gain their independence in 1957. According to contemporary accounts such as those by al-Yakqubi (872  AD) al-Masudi (c. 944  AD), Ibn Hawqal (c. 977  AD), al-Biruni (c. 1036  AD), as well as Abu-Ubayd al-Bakri, the empire was a purely African kingdom, founded, and ruled by Africans, Soninke people. Ghana 1. Many of the handcrafted leather goods found in old Morocco also had their origins in the Ghana empire. The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. In those ten years Ghana weakened and fell to an invasion - The muslim warriors brought many animals with them which needed food to live. Ghana synonyms, Ghana pronunciation, Ghana translation, English dictionary definition of Ghana. The kingdom of Sosso (aka, Susu, c. 1180-1235 CE) was the biggest inheritor of the crumbling Ghana Empire, aided by the collapse of the Almoravids in the mid-12th century CE. Like in many African states today, the city contained a sacred grove of trees where the priests lived. In oral tradition, Sonni Ali is often known as a powerful politician and great military commander. ANSWER: The golden coast 3. Gold Trade and the Mali Empire By 1050, Ghana was strong enough to assume control of the Islamic Berber town of Audaghost. It was a natural barrier to Ghana’s south and a mode of transportation and trade to other regions. The Ghana Empire crumbled from the 12th century CE following drought, civil wars, the opening up of trade routes elsewhere, and the rise of the Sosso Kingdom (c. 1180-1235 CE) and then the Mali Empire (1240-1645 CE). He sits in audience or to hear grievances against officials in a domed pavilion around which stand ten horses covered with gold-embroidered materials. Today, Koumbi Saleh is being excavated, and many cities that were part of the Ghana Empire, such as Ouadane, Chinguetti,or Oualata, are also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Explanation: Behind the king stand ten pages holding shields and swords decorated with gold, and on his right are the sons of the kings of his country wearing splendid garments and their hair plaited with gold. Ghana was in the middle. What is the nickname given to the Kingdom of Ghana? Ghana became powerful through trade. ANSWER: The land's abundance of resources allowed Ghana's rulers to engage in years of The Republic of Ghana is named after the medieval West African Ghana Empire. I first heard the term Wagadou when I watched the Burkinabe fantasy movie Sia, Dream of the Python which takes place centuries ago in that kingdom. There were many competitors in the gold mining trade industry that were trying to overcome Ghana in wealth and power. The Ghana Empire ( c. 300 until c. 1100), properly known as Wagadou ( Ghana being the title of its ruler), was a West African empire located in the area of present-day southeastern Mauritania and western Mali. 3, Africa from the Seventh to the Eleventh Century, ed. Sefwi is the agricultural powerhouse of Ghana and the area is known for export of cocoa, cassava and other agricultural products. INTRODUCTION TO Kingdoms of Africa EQ: How did Ghana become a trading empire? With his control of critical trade routes and cities such as Timbuktu, Sonni Ali brought great wealth to the Songhai Empire , which at its height would surpass the wealth of Mali. These three kingdoms settled along regions near the Niger River. It is … Trade declined after the gold mining decreased, so there was no income coming in. Charles was born and raised in Ghana (in West Africa) and is very passionate about the culture and traditions of the Ghanaian people. The king’s residence, known as El-Ghaba, was the major part of the city. Modern Timbuktu Eventually, a successful airstrip was established; however, today , Timbuktu is still most commonly reached by camel, motor vehicle, or boat. Why was Ghana’s king so powerful ? It is also home to natural resources such as gold, bauxite and timber. Chapter 13 history introduction to ghana 1. The Ghana Empire eventually merged with the Mali Empire, which became one of the largest empires in African history and one of the richest as well. By 1000 B.C.E., the nation had undergone strategic expansion and taken control of a large pocket of land between the upper Niger and Senegal Rivers. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. It was a West African empire located in the area of present-day southeastern Mauritania, and western Mali. How was power passed down when the king died? km). It was inhabited almost entirely by Muslims along with twelve mosques. when the Gold Coast gained its independence of colonial rule in 1957, political leaders paid tribute to this glorious heritage by naming their new country Ghana hy was the name for Ghana selected? Your email address will not be published. Ghana was a great military power in ancient times. The actual name of the Empire was Wagadugu. Ghana is a title given to their kings… and their king today [1067] is Tunka Manin. The Ghana Empire, called the Wagadou (or Wagadu) Empire by its rulers, was located in what is now southeastern Mauritania, western Mali, and eastern Senegal. What important role do you think the Niger River played in the Kingdom of Ghana ? to signify the rebirth of ancient Ghana's illustrious past in black Africa ( Log Out /  It was founded probably in the 8th century ad... Ghana - definition of Ghana by The Free Dictionary. Change ). Ghana was known for its large Gold usage, and hence was named the Land of Gold by the Arabs during the Trans-Saharan trade. The Ghana people were know as the Soninke, and whenever they faced the king they showed him great respect by kneeling and showering dust over their hands. There is no consensus on when precisely it originated, but its development is linked to the changes in trade that emerged throughout the centuries after the introduction of the camel to the western Sahara (3rd century). Ghana was rich with gold and the king became and held his power by collecting taxes on the gold trade and controlling the supply of gold. The economy of the empire was based around gold, salt, copper, and other goods. Timbuktu was the starting point for trans-Saharan camel caravans which transported goods northwards. Its capital was Koumbi-Saleh, on the edge of the Sahara desert (when the Sahara was not as arid as today). Ghana is a country that has one of the richest cultural heritages in Africa.