Empire of Ghana Flashcards
How did Ghana in West Africa become a powerful empire?
Ghana gained control of the valuable Saharan trade routes.
Where was the empire of Ghana located?
The empire of Ghana was located between the Niger and Senegal rivers.
How did Ghana grew in strength from it’s beginning as a group of farmers?
To protect their water and pastures from nomadic herders, the farmers, the Soninke, banded together. They learned to work with iron and used iron to farm. They also herded cattle for meat and milk. Because the farmers produced lots of food, the population increased and towns and villages grew.
Why was Ghana’s location a good position to trade?
Ghana lay between the vast Sahara Desert and deep forests so they were in a position to trade in the most valuable resources - GOLD from the south in the mines near the Gulf of Gunea and SALT from the Sahara in the north.
Why was salt so valuable?
Salt was used to preserve food and also made bland food tasty.
What is silent barter?
Silent barter is a process in which people exchange goods without ever contacting each other directly.
How did trade increase in Ghana?
As trade in gold and salt increased, Ghana’s rulers gained power and their military also grew. The rulers took over the trade route and merchants began to meet in Ghana for trade. Additional sources of wealth and trade increased Ghana’s wealth: wheat, sheep, cattle, honey, local leather , cloth and special tassels made from golden thread.
What was Koumbi Saleh?
Koumbi Saleh was the capital of Ghana that grew to be the largest city in West Africa. It was also known for being a great trading center because one could find all the region’s goods for sale in the markets.
How did Ghana build an empire?
Ghana built their empire by wealth and expansion. They gained wealth from trade, taxes, tribute and gold. They gained more territory by conquering their neighbors with their powerful army.
How did Ghana gain wealth?
Ghana rulers began to force traders to pay taxes. The people of Ghana also paid taxes and the tribes Ghana conquered were forced to pay tribute. Taxes and tribute were used to support Ghana military. Ghana also had rich mines with produced huge amounts of gold. Gold was traded but Ghana rulers also kept a lot of gold
How did Ghana expand their territory?
Ghana rulers used their great wealth to build a powerful army. With this army Ghana conquered many of their neighbors. Conquered kings were allowed to keep much of their power and acted like governors of their territories that only answered to the king.
Why did Ghana have control of West Africa’s trade routes?
Nearly all trade between northern and southern Africa passed through Ghana. The Ghana army protected the trade routes so it was considered safe and traders were not scared to travel to Ghana.
How did the rulers of Ghana control trade?
Ghana rulers took over control of trade from merchants. They used their wealth to build an army and the army was used to protect trade routes leading to Ghana. Everyone was willing to travel to Ghana to to do their trading.
Why did Ghana decline in the 1000s?
Three factors:
1) INVASION- A Muslim group called the Almoravids attacked Ghana in the 1060s . The people of Ghana fought them for 14 years but at the end the Almoravids won and destroyed the city of Koumbi Saleh. Almoravids cut off many trade routes through Ghana. Without this trade Ghana could no longer support it’s empire.
2) OVERGRAZING- The Almoravids brought herds of animals with them when the conquered Ghana. The animals ate all the grass in the pastures and the land became worthless for farming or herding.
3) INTERNAL REBELLION - In 1200 a people of a country Ghana conquered rose up in rebellion and took over the entire empire of Ghana. The rebels, however, could not keep order. The weakened Ghana was attached and defeated by one of it’s neighbors and the empire fell apart.
