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| Empire of Ghana |
Ghana
Empire of the Soninke People dominated West Africa for centuries with its
military and economy. The Ghana Empire was not located in modern day Ghana. It
was situated further north, to the area of western Mali and Southern
Mauritania, north of the Senagal and Niger River. The Ghana Empire occupied the
lands between the Saharan desert in the north and forest region in the south. Its
lands were part of the sahel and also savanna lands known as bilad-al-Sudan.
Much
of the history and foundation of the Ghana Empire was shrouded in mystery. Only
records of Muslim travelers and archaeological findings provided much of the
information about the Empire. During the 8th century, Ibrahim al-Fazari
mentioned Ghana as the “land of gold.” Then, in the 11th century, other Islamic
geographers al-Bakri and ibn Hawkal recounts tales of travelers who had been in
the Ghana Empire.
Nevertheless,
it was accepted that the Soninke People dominated and ruled the fabled Empire
of Ghana. The Soninke people occupied the Sudanese lands. They lived by farming
and grazing, using the rivers and the grazing lands of the Savanna. How did the
Soninke people established the Ghana? It was never clear. But by the 4th
century, they were already a powerful and wealthy kingdom in the region.
The
name Ghana came from the title of its ruler. The Empire had many names, to the
Soninke People, it was known as the Wagadu. To the Arabs, they called it
Aoukar. But it was better known to many as Ghana. Ghana was the greatest power
in the Empire. Ghana meant war king or war chief. Later on, the title became
synonymous to his domain.
The
center of the Ghana Empire during its existence was Kumbi Saleh. Located
southwest of Timbuktu and north of modern day capital of Mali, Bamoko, it was
the center of commerce, religion, education, and government of the Ghana
Empire. At its height during 1200, it became the home of about 15,000 people. Kumbi
Saleh was divided into two parts, six miles apart. One side of the city was the
Muslim section. It was the center of Islam in West Africa. Hosted 10 mosques
and numerous Islamic schools. Islamic scholars and traders alike flocked the
town to engage in commercial and intellectual activities. The Muslim section
had stone houses habited by Muslim subjects of the empire. In the other side of
Kumbi Saleh was the Soninke section of the city known as al Ghaba or forest
because of wood teaks that served as fences of the town. It was the political
center of the city and the Empire itself. The Ghana or the ruler resided in
this part of the city. At its center was the palace of the Ghana made of stones
with glass windows and surrounded by fences. But with the exception of the
palace. Most Soninke still lived in their traditional mud-made huts. Officials
and servants resided also in al-Ghaba. Also, al-Ghaba differ in religion in
contrast to the Muslim section of Kumbi Saleh. In al-Ghaba traditional religion
continued to be practice. Pagan worship of idols known as dakakir remained to
be practice by the Ghana and other high officials.
The
military expansion of the Ghana Empire also was mysterious as its extent. But
it was accepted that it was large enough to maintain a large army composed of
200,000 men. 40,000 of which were made of archers. It also had several cavalry
units. This large army helped to maintain the Empire for centuries.
Another
factor in keeping the empire was an efficient administrative system under the
Ghana. Off course, the Ghana, the warlord of the Empire, must possess military,
commercial and political skills. But the uniqueness of the Ghana laid in its
succession order. In most other civilizations around the world, the eldest son
of the King was the heir to throne. However, in Ghana, it was matrilineal. It
meant that the eldest son of the eldest sister of the King would be the first
in the line of succession. To managed different localities, the empire were
divided into provinces known as a’mal. The Ghana relied on governors and local
kings to rule efficiently. Local governors and king kept their position by
working well and also keeping their loyalty to the Ghana.
Another
secret of the Ghana Empire was its wealthy economy. Farming and grazing
continued as a traditional source of livelihood, especially for the Soninke
People. But most of its revenue came from the lucrative Trans-Saharan trade.
Kumbi Saleh in particular laid in the western end of the trade route. Ghana
controlled the trade of salt, gold, and iron. Iron, in particular, was vital to
the strength of its Empire. It gave the advantage to Ghana to rise as a
powerful empire. Evidence showed that by 400, Soninke developed its iron
technology and had the capability to produce tools and weapons. Tools for
mining and agricultural activities and for weapons for the military. But the
most significant and well-known asset of the Ghana Empire was gold. Much of its
gold mines were located south of the Empire, in the Wangara region. By law, the
Ghana owned the mines and every single gold nugget from it. Only the gold dust
was allowed for trade. With the control of trade and ownership of large amounts
of gold, the Ghana as also known as the Kya Magan or Master of Gold and Ghana as the "land of gold." With
extensive trade of many items, especially gold and salt, taxation also became a
major source of revenue. Transit duties became a major factor to the wealth of
Ghana. For every donkey loaded with salt being imported into Ghana must pay 1
dinar, while 2 dinar for donkey with salt leaving the Empire.
By
the middle of the 11th century, Ghana continued to be the wealthiest kingdom in
the whole continent. During the reign of Tunka Manin (reigning 1062 – 1076) saw
high standards of living. Many in Kumbi Saleh wore exquisite clothes made of
silk, cotton, and other types of textile traded along the Trans-Saharan trade
routes. Stone houses dominated the capital city. However, the wealth of Ghana
became the envy of many of its neighbors.
One
in particular was the Almoravids from the neighboring Morocco in the north. For
decades, under the predecessor of Tunka Manin fought the Almoravids with
ferocity. However, in 1076, the Ghana army could not hold against the
intensifying onslaught of the Almoravids. Kumbi Saleh fell to the hands of the
Almoravids. And for the next ten years it became a dominion of the Almoravids.
But when the Almoravids left in 1086, the age of glory and wealth also left.
The whole Ghana Empire disintegrated into different principalities. The most
prominent were the Susu people and the Peul. In 1200, the Susu invaded Kumbi
Saleh. The Susu could not restore order because of constant war against its
neighbors who also consolidated to different kingdoms. It was only in 1240,
when Kumbi Saleh and Ghana itself was eclipsed by a new empire – the Empire of
Mali.
Ghana
was just a start of a line of civilization that rose in the West African
region. Ghana was a testament that Africa was not a backwater in world history.
But rather, should be treated equally because of its wealth that match like any
other civilization during that time. Ghana’s wealth and prestige inspired the
rise of many other civilization – the Mali Empire and later even the Songhai Empire.
See also:
Bibliography:
See also:
Bibliography:
Appiah, K. Encyclopedia
of Africa. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010.
Asante, M. The
History of Africa: The Quest for Eternal Harmony. New York: Routledge, 2010.
Diagram Group. Encyclopedia
of African People. New York: Routledge, 2000.
Imperato, P. & G. Imperato. Historical Dictionary of Mali. Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2008.
Shillington, K. (ed.). Encyclopedia of African History. New York: Fitzroy Dearborn Taylor,
2005.
Stearns, P. (ed.). World History in Documents: A Comparative Reader. New York: New York University Press, 2008.
Stearns, P. (ed.). World History in Documents: A Comparative Reader. New York: New York University Press, 2008.
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