The Kingdom of
Ghana
"The Land of Gold"
Pages 422-423
South of the Sahara
1
- Great land for agriculture
- People started to live in villages, each one with their own chiefs
- They slowlly became the kingdom of Ghana
A.D. 500
2
- Ghana became the first great trading state
- The capital of Ghana was Koumbi-Saleh
- They controlled the main salt resources and gold mines.
Trading Goods
- Ghana’s kings made their money by taxing salt and other trade goods.
- All gold nuggets automatically belonged to the king, and only gold dust could be traded.
- Trade goods also included textiles, weapons, horses, and even bananas.
3
During 700s
4
- Arab traders brought Islam and Islamic laws to West Africa.
- Traders and others learned to speak and write in Arabic.
- Up to that point, people living in West Africa had not had a written language.
Around 1050
5
- The Almoravids attacked Ghana and tried to force the leaders to become Muslims.
- In 1076, The Almoravids captured Koumbi-Saleh.
Early 1200s
6
- Ghana's soil was worn out and could no longer support the population.
- Traders and farmes were migrating to richer lands.
- Ghana came to an end.