African Kingdoms Dbq

The Samburu are an ethnic group from the Northern part of Kenya in Africa. They are a pastoral and semi nomadic group that follow the scarce and unpredictable rain patterns.

There is no other way to look at what the African People had for advancements in technology had that kingdom tribes. Europeans arrived in the 15th-16th century, but before that the African people had so many achievements under their belt.These cities became emperors in the 300s. Each empire had their hand in the control of the salt and gold trade. The cities got power from trade and became centers of living. Throughout the 300s cities turned into empires and also fell.The three most known empires in the west are Ghana, Mali, Songhai. Ghana rose to control the power of the trans-saharan gold and salt trade between 700-1067. The Empire of Mali rose around 1235. Within this empire was the city of Timbuktu. Finally the Songhai empire lasted from

The trans-Saharan trade network changed Northern and Western Africa from an isolated hunting-gathering society to a major trade center that boasted economic and political power headed by Islamic empires and city-states.

The achievements of the African kingdoms and cities were better before the arrival of the Europeans. The Niger River created a place where all the kingdoms could trade, since the kingdoms were all around it and made a way to transport goods. The salt and gold trade was a way so one place that had to much gold and had very little of salt would get the salt they need and the opposite for the other city-state. Mansa Musa was so generous that he made the gold worth go down by giving out so much gold. The western African kingdoms had achievements like the salt and gold trade, the Niger River to help them trade along with, and Mansa Musa that gave out gold and helped Mali become twice the size it was.

The colonization and capture of African region by European, or so call “Scramble for Africa” was between the 1870s and 1900, Africa faced European imperialist attack. Europeans have been elaborate in Africa since the 16th century when the Portuguese used their cannons to take over the coast to set up their operating post territory. In the beginning of 19th century, European only had control over 10 percent of Africa. But not until the second half of 19th century, European suddenly and spectacularly succeeded at colonizing basically all of Africa. The reason for European causing imperialist push into Africa was economic, political, and social. But the primary motivation for European scramble and the partition and eventual conquest of Africa

During 400 AD, West Africa witnessed the rise and fall of the indigenous medieval empires of ancient Ghana, medieval Mali, and Songhai. Many other states and kingdoms arose during this time but Ghana, Mali and Songhai achieved the status of fully-fledged, functioning and long-living conquest states and expansionist empires. These empires regulated the Trans-Saharan trade by offering protection for trade caravans as well as taxing slaves, gold, firearms, textiles and salt. Ghana reached its height by 1200 AD and was ruled by the Serahule people which eventually broke apart by in the 13th century. The Mali Empire was a Mandinka territory but also took on Ghana’s territory and extended into the 13th century.

hroughout Africa, geography played a vital role in the development of civilization and the way goods were spread. Remember that a great portion of Northern and Central Africa was desert, characterized by thousands of miles of shifting sand, heat, and a complete lack of water. Trade and cities thrived in this arid and desolate landscape with the help of camels. Camels have the ability to fill their humps with water, they have tough hides, and long eyelashes to keep the sand out, along with long legs to cover a lot of ground. Traders could pack massive amounts of goods and supplies onto each camel. This sort of travel allowed the gold from regions south of the Sahara, or sub-Saharan regions, to move north to the Mediterranean ports, where it

Mossi kingdom was a complex of independent West African kingdoms ( in c. 1500–189) around the headwaters of the Volta River (within the modern republics of Burkina Faso and Ghana) including in the south Mamprusi, Dagomba, and Nanumba, and in the north Tenkodogo, Wagadugu (Ouagadougou), Yatenga, and Fada-n-Gurma (Fada Ngourma).

Brian, the rise and fall of kingdoms and nations prior to the rise of the European era dominance intrigues me. Even more specifically, the rise of Africa, to its current condition today is almost mind boggling and begs the question, why? Yet again, we find that resources and religion (Islam) played a significant role in the growth of a civilization (Schultz, 2009). However, as is the case when greed is involved eventually individuals or countries over-extend their reach, or deplete the resources and Africa was no different. This not only follows in natural resources but in humans as well, with African Kingdoms and tribes taking slaves from kingdoms or tribes that believed differently.

The Mali Empire, one of the most powerful empires in the country’s history, ruled until 1591 and gained their success by trading gold, salt, and slaves to the Europeans. The

European historians stereotyped Africans as impoverished, but in reality, many kingdoms were wealthy, having a major impact on Africa ever since trading was successful. In fact, in a passage from Document 2, “The court of appeal is held in a domed pavilion… sons of the subordinate kings… all wearing splendid garments and… hair mixed with gold” (Al-Bakri). What he really means is the kingdom of Ghana was very wealthy from controlling the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade, and their advanced political structure made them so powerful. In the king’s court, nearly everyone had at least some gold on their clothing, even their dogs and horses. Also, Leon E. Clark himself also writes, “... the land of gold… wealth derived from gold… the king of Ghana

The video of this week “Kingdoms of Africa West Africa” is a documentary in which British art historian Dr Gus Casely-Hayford explores the pre-colonial history of kingdoms of West Africa. During the video, I had the opportunity to learn that The African continent is home to nearly a billion people. It has an incredible diversity of communities and cultures. Most importantly I learned that when in the 16th century bronze casts were discovered in the kingdom of Benin in 1897, many could not believe Africans had made them because they believe West Africa lacked the technical development required making them. In the documentary Dr Casely-Hayford travels to present-day Nigeria and Mali in search of the truth, exploring what the bronzes mean, how

Medieval West Africa was a very diverse place but throughout the area, some things stayed the same, the way they ran their lives. Civics and government were one of the things that, for the most part, stayed the same.

The kingdoms of West Africa and the kingdoms of East Africa have both similarities and differences. A difference is that West Africa traded with just the nomads who passed through the empire, while the East traded with India and other empires through the sea and silk roads. The way they traded has another difference on what they should know. The East had to know about the monsoons to know when it was safe to trade or cross the sea. Just like India did when they wanted to trade or grow crops. The West however didn’t need to have knowledge of monsoons, they didn’t really have to have knowledge of anything other than a bit of geography to trade. The East side was more animistic and traditional, while the West was muslim and incorporated new religion.

It was run by a king. The most successful king was Ewuare. During his reign, Benin established many commercial and diplomatic relations with Portugal. Portuguese traders were the first of Europeans who knows about Benin City. These traders valuable commodities were to be come from Benin. The kingdom participated in a lot of trades with Europe. Included pepper, tusk and ivory and what Benin famous with. Another industry Benin took place in slave trade. In Western Europe, gold regarded as most precious material which was bring to Europe from the West Africa, what they call it “Gold coast”. The famous brass sculpture that made in Africa is come from the kingdom of Benin, and knows as Benin Bronzes. Other things including tools, bronze sculptures and weapons have also been found, each hand cast with brass. Which can conclusion from this that Benin culture is rich of art and craftsmanship who’s have skills that not compare with Western Europe art