13.1 Empire of Ghana13.1 Empire of Ghana

The Big Idea: The Big Idea: The rulers The rulers of Ghana built an empire of Ghana built an empire

by controlling the salt by controlling the salt and gold trade.and gold trade.

Main Idea 1: Ghana Main Idea 1: Ghana controlled trade and controlled trade and

became wealthy.became wealthy.

Ghana Controls TradeGhana Controls Trade Sometime after 300 the first farmers in Sometime after 300 the first farmers in

Ghana, the Ghana, the SoninkeSoninke (some of the (some of the earliest people in West Africa), were earliest people in West Africa), were threatened by nomadic herders. The threatened by nomadic herders. The Soninke began to band together for Soninke began to band together for protection, forming the beginnings of protection, forming the beginnings of Ghana.Ghana.

They grew in strength, learning to work They grew in strength, learning to work with iron. They used iron farm tools to with iron. They used iron farm tools to produce more food, allowing the produce more food, allowing the population to increase. They also made population to increase. They also made superior iron weapons.superior iron weapons.

Ghana Controls TradeGhana Controls Trade For hundreds of years West Africans did For hundreds of years West Africans did

not profit from the trade routes that not profit from the trade routes that crisscrossed the region because they crisscrossed the region because they were run by Berbers from North Africa.were run by Berbers from North Africa.

Ghana lay between the vast Sahara Ghana lay between the vast Sahara Desert and deep forests, a good Desert and deep forests, a good position to trade in the region’s most position to trade in the region’s most valuable resources, gold and salt.valuable resources, gold and salt.

Ghana Ghana was the first kingdom in West was the first kingdom in West Africa to gain control of trade routes.Africa to gain control of trade routes.

Gold and SaltGold and Salt GoldGold

• Gold came from the south, from Gold came from the south, from mines near the mines near the Gulf of GuineaGulf of Guinea and and along the along the Niger River. Niger River.

• People wanted gold for its beauty.People wanted gold for its beauty. SaltSalt

• Salt came from the Sahara in the Salt came from the Sahara in the north. People needed salt to survive. north. People needed salt to survive.

• It could preserve food, and made It could preserve food, and made bland food tasty.bland food tasty.

SaltSalt

Trading Gold and SaltTrading Gold and Salt The exchange of gold and salt The exchange of gold and salt

sometimes followed a sometimes followed a silent bartersilent barter (process in which people exchange (process in which people exchange goods without ever contacting each goods without ever contacting each other directly.)other directly.)• Helped ensure traders did business Helped ensure traders did business

peacefullypeacefully• Kept exact location of gold mines a Kept exact location of gold mines a

secret from salt traderssecret from salt traders

Trading Gold and SaltTrading Gold and Salt

As trade increased, Ghana’s rulers As trade increased, Ghana’s rulers gained power. gained power. •Their military strength grew as Their military strength grew as

well. well. •Began to take control of trade Began to take control of trade

routesroutes•Rulers of Ghana became wealthy.Rulers of Ghana became wealthy.

Trading Gold and SaltTrading Gold and Salt

Additional sources of wealth and Additional sources of wealth and trade included wheat, sheep, cattle, trade included wheat, sheep, cattle, honey, leather, cloth, and tassels honey, leather, cloth, and tassels made from golden thread.made from golden thread.

As trade increased, Ghana’s capital, As trade increased, Ghana’s capital, Koumbi SalehKoumbi Saleh became West became West Africa’s largest city and a great Africa’s largest city and a great trading center.trading center.

Main Idea 2: Through its Main Idea 2: Through its control of trade, Ghana control of trade, Ghana

built an empire.built an empire.

By 800 Ghana was firmly in control By 800 Ghana was firmly in control of West Africa’s trade routes.of West Africa’s trade routes.

Traders were protected by Ghana’s Traders were protected by Ghana’s army.army.

Ghana’s rulers made money by Ghana’s rulers made money by forcing traders to pay taxes. The forcing traders to pay taxes. The people of Ghana also had to pay people of Ghana also had to pay taxes, and conquered neighboring taxes, and conquered neighboring tribes had to pay tribute.tribes had to pay tribute.

Ghana’s mines produced huge Ghana’s mines produced huge amounts of gold, which was amounts of gold, which was officially the property of the king.officially the property of the king.

The rulers banned anyone else in The rulers banned anyone else in Ghana from owning gold nuggets. Ghana from owning gold nuggets. Common people could own only Common people could own only gold dust.gold dust.

Expansion of the EmpireExpansion of the Empire Ghana’s kings used their wealth to build a Ghana’s kings used their wealth to build a

powerful army and conquer many of their powerful army and conquer many of their neighbors. Many conquered areas were neighbors. Many conquered areas were trade centers, bringing more wealth.trade centers, bringing more wealth.

Travel and communication were difficult Travel and communication were difficult in their large empire, so they allowed in their large empire, so they allowed conquered kings to retain much of their conquered kings to retain much of their power.power.

The empire of Ghana reached its peak The empire of Ghana reached its peak under under Tunka ManinTunka Manin..

Main Idea 3: Attacking Main Idea 3: Attacking invaders, overgrazing, invaders, overgrazing, and the loss of trade and the loss of trade

caused Ghana’s caused Ghana’s decline.decline.

InvasionInvasion

The Muslim The Muslim AlmoravidsAlmoravids attacked attacked Ghana in the 1060s.Ghana in the 1060s.

Destroyed the city of Destroyed the city of Koumbi SalehKoumbi Saleh They cut off trade routes and formed They cut off trade routes and formed

new partnerships with Muslim new partnerships with Muslim leaders.leaders.

Without trade, Ghana could no longer Without trade, Ghana could no longer support its empire.support its empire.

OvergrazingOvergrazing

The Almoravids brought herds of The Almoravids brought herds of animals with them.animals with them.

The animals overgrazed, leaving the The animals overgrazed, leaving the soil to blow away.soil to blow away.

Unable to grow crops, many farmers Unable to grow crops, many farmers had to leave.had to leave.

Internal RebellionInternal Rebellion

In about 1200 the people of one of In about 1200 the people of one of the areas Ghana had conquered rose the areas Ghana had conquered rose up in rebellion.up in rebellion.

Within a few years the rebels had Within a few years the rebels had taken over Ghana.taken over Ghana.

Weakened, Ghana was defeated by Weakened, Ghana was defeated by one of its neighbors.one of its neighbors.