The Ghana Empire

The Ghana Empire was an important black trading state in West Africa from about the A.D. 300's to the mid-1000's. Arab camel caravans brought horses, metalware, salt and copper from mines in the Sahara, and dried fruits from North Africa to Ghana's markets. There the products were traded for gold, ivory, and cloth as well as slaves from regions south of Ghana. Ghanaian jewelry and leather goods were sold and traded for textiles, clothing, and fine tools from Arabia and Europe. Kumbi Saleh, the capital, and Audagost were probably the largest cities in West Africa. Each of them may have had over 15,000 people.

The Ghana Empire lay in what is now southeastern Mauritania and western Mali. During Ghana's early period, Berbers from the north ruled the native Soninke people. Ghana's greatest period began in the 700's, soon after the Soninke gained control, and lasted until the mid-1000's. The king of Ghana charged import and export taxes, which were paid in gold. He also claimed all gold nuggets found in his kingdom. With this wealth, the king maintained an efficient government and an army that kept the trade routes to Ghana safe. Skilled ironworkers produced weapons that contributed to Ghana's strength. Moroccan Berbers called Almoravids conquered Ghana in the mid-1000's. The Soninke retook Kumbi Saleh in the late 1000's, but the outer parts of the empire had declared their freedom. Ghana never regained its power and fell to the Mali Empire in the early 1200's.

Excerpt adapted from the "Ghana Empire" article, The World Book Encyclopedia ©1999