Ghana Empire: History and Culture

• The Ghana Empire existed in West Africa from 830 C.E. to 1235 C.E.
• "Ghana" means "king of gold".
• Other names for the Ghana Empire are Wagadou and Awkar.
• The Kingdom of Ghana ruled over a large part of Western Sudan (West Africa).
• Most information about the Ghana Empire was passed on through oral tradition.
• Islam greatly influenced the culture and economy, especially in the last two centuries, with over ten mosques in the capital.
• Akan gold weights from Ghana are a manifestation of the immense amount of gold available in the empire

Location

• The Kingdom of Ghana is not the same as the country of Ghana today, as they do not geographically overlap.
• The Kingdom of Ghana was north of present-day Ghana, occupying the same area as modern Mauritania and Mali.
• The capital city of the Ghana Empire was Koumbi Saleh.
• Koumbi Saleh served as the center of trade and the wealthiest city in the empire.

Founding

• The Ghana Empire was founded in 850 C.E.
• It was founded by families and groups who wanted to develop and maintain control over all of Africa through economic trading power.
• One theory suggests the empire was created to capitalize on iron smelting techniques for weapons.

Wealth

• A main industry in Ghana was iron smelting for weapons production.
• Ghana was central to the gold trade.
• Some accounts reference massive gold mines within Ghana, though these might refer to the kings' treasuries.
• Koumbi Saleh was the trade center and richest city, where the kings resided.
• Merchants acted as traders and political/administrative advisors.
• Ghana imported copper, textiles, beads, and horses in exchange for exports and taxes.
• Rulers kept most of the wealth, taxing traders entering and leaving the empire.
• Poorer villages surrounded the main cities like Koumbi Saleh.

Trade

• The Ghana Empire was strongly involved in the Trans-Saharan Gold Trade.
• Main trade items included salt, gold, copper, iron, ivory, and other hard materials found within the empire.
• Traders from the Kingdom of Ghana were the first who widely use the camel in their business.
• Traders were highly respected due to trade's importance.

Leaders

• All kings lived in Koumbi Saleh and kept gold in personal treasuries.
• Key rulers of the Kingdom of Ghana include:
• Majan Dyabe Cisse (Dinga Cisse): The first warrior king, who united people through economic power in the late eighth and early ninth century C.E.
• Diara Kante: Took control in 1180, establishing the Diarisso Dynasty.

Fall

• The fall of the Ghana Empire occurred in the twelfth and early thirteenth centuries.
• Theories for the fall include:
• Wealth attracting attacks from other kingdoms like Mali seeking gold.
• A devastating drought draining agricultural resources.
• Civil wars fragmenting the empire, possibly due to religious divisions between Muslims and followers of indigenous religions.
• In 1235 C.E., Arabs from North Africa conquered the Kingdom of Ghana.
• The conquered Ghana Empire was absorbed into the Islamic Mali Empire, led by Abu Bakr.

Explore the Ghana Empire, which existed from 830 C.E. to 1235 C.E. in West Africa. Discover its influence on culture and economy, especially through Islam, and learn about its capital city, Koumbi Saleh, and its location in modern Mauritania and Mali.