African Canadian Studies
The Ancient Kingdoms of West Africa
Early African Empires: Ghana
• Much of what we know about the kingdoms of West Africa come from archaeological
excavations of, oral history, and the writings of Arab traders and travelers.
• The earliest West African kingdom mentioned is Ghana, which is described in the 700’s
as the “Land of Gold”
• Ghana was founded in 800 A.D. Its riches were built on the gold and salt trade.
• In West Africa there was a high demand for salt. The only deposits were far inland, in
the Sahara. Salt was loaded on to long lines of camels and carried out through the
desert tot eh coastal areas.
• In return, West Africans traded gold. Ghanaian traders were famous for their finely
tuned scales with which they measured gold dust and nuggets.
• In the 400’s the kings of Ghana began to tax the trade. The kings quickly grew rich.
Once their society was wealthy the kings encouraged the growing of different types of
crops, the development of improved tools and textiles. They even began to breed
better horses.
• During the 11th century the capital of Ghana was Kumbi-Saleh.
• Ancient Ghana was probably the most complex economic and political system that
emerged in West Africa.
• Eventually, the empire of Ghana entered a decline. Gold sources dried up, trade
ended, and settlements withered away. The kingdom was eventually invaded.
SCO: Students will be expected to examine the political, economic and
social systems of ancient African kingdoms