Bantu:
The Bantu-speaking peoples were initially small, hunter-gatherer tribes in a savanna south of the Sahara (now known as Nigeria), named for their language (“Bantu” means “the people”). They were especially known for developing and passing on ironworking. The group remained this way until around 1000 B.C.E, when the migration(s) began; scientists believe the main reason behind the migration(s) was likely a common one: the assumption of why they continued to travel was because as they learned new ways of obtaining food, their population(s) kept growing, forcing them to expand to other regions of Africa. It is also suspected that because of the need for charcoal to smelt the metals into iron, the Bantu-speaking peoples had to travel south for hardwood to burn (Beck, et. al).
Early on, Bantu-speaking nomads used slash and burn methods of farming to allow smalls groups to migrate small distances outward at a time, following the Congo River until reaching what is now central Angola at around 500 B.C.E. (Classic Africa). Slowly but surely, they spread their ways of life, and adopted new ones. Moving East, they picked up new ways of herding livestock from groups in what is now Kenya and Tanzania, and learned to grow bananas. Eventually, the Bantu-speaking people traveled around the Kalahari and Namib deserts. After about 2,700 years since they had begun, they reached the southern tip of Africa. Each time they moved into a new area, the Bantu often encountered groups like BaMbuti, or the San. They had different interactions with various groups, and were rather technologically and agriculturally advanced comparatively: the small groups they came into contact with were still farming with slash-and-burn, and had no ironworking - like lots of Africa, they were still in the stone age. Because of this, the Bantu speaking peoples were easily able to spread across the continent quickly -- today, the BaMbuti only maintain a small part along the Congo River, and the San live around the Kalahari Desert. These groups live a simplistic life, and there culture nor language reflect that of the Bantu-speaking people.
Arguably the most important and long-standing thing that the Bantu integrated into society is language. The Bantu language is suspected to have combined with Persian and Arabic words as the Bantu-speaking peoples traded with Arab traders around the Indian Ocean as early as 1000 A.D. For the next seven centuries (and onward), the Bantu people were important for trade with Arabs and Persians, and vise-versa. The centuries of trading and such between cultures went on to form Swahili, aka Kiswahili. The word itself means “the coast.” Today, Swahili is the second most common language in Africa, with around 240 million people speaking it now.
The groups continued on and grew for thousands of years, having such high points as formation of the kingdom of the great Mapungubwe. By the end of the migrations, they populated the southern third of the continent. Between the 13th and 15th centuries, local chiefdoms were being replaced with larger governmental systems in various regions of Africa, like along the Zambezi river. The governments grew and grew, and villages became powerful cities with specialized workers. Trade continued on, and the Bantu-speaking peoples were dominant forces to be reckoned with. This power came to a halt however by the colonial times around the 15th-16th century(ies), when The powerful -- and even more technologically advanced -- Portuguese fought and conquered lots of Africa, stripping the Bantu-speaking people of their power and rights. In 1730, the Omani Arabs overcame Portugal, enslaving the conquered portions of African groups. This slavery continued on through various decades and leaders (Bantu History).
The Bantu-speaking people had a group-oriented society, with their borders simply being vague, natural ones, like rivers or mountain. Family was very highly regarded, and the little government they had were grouped into small valleys or fields, each one with a hereditary chief, with the next in line being the oldest son, and so on. Since the Bantu are mainly defined by their central language, they branched off into smaller groups and such when they migrated. The village chief would be surrounded by his advisers, who were always male friends or family members. The power of the leader was subjective, but he was never above the law.
As far as food acquisition, the Bantu were confined to agriculture and hunting, with the women taking up the brunt of the former, and the men the latter. For a largely river-based society, fishing was surprisingly unimportant for most groups; their diet consisted mostly of: corn (of South-East Asia), meat (game and beef), vegetables, milk, water, and slightly alcoholic grain beer. They also had taboos on eating: dogs, apes, crocodiles, or snakes owls, crows, and vultures. Bantu-speaking peoples believed in various kinds of magic, and believed heavily in animism. They were monotheistic, and known for rituals simply to get something in return rather than connect with the divine. They also emphasized the importance of ghosts, and their presence in their society(ies) (New World Encyclopedia).
The Bantu-speaking peoples were initially small, hunter-gatherer tribes in a savanna south of the Sahara (now known as Nigeria), named for their language (“Bantu” means “the people”). They were especially known for developing and passing on ironworking. The group remained this way until around 1000 B.C.E, when the migration(s) began; scientists believe the main reason behind the migration(s) was likely a common one: the assumption of why they continued to travel was because as they learned new ways of obtaining food, their population(s) kept growing, forcing them to expand to other regions of Africa. It is also suspected that because of the need for charcoal to smelt the metals into iron, the Bantu-speaking peoples had to travel south for hardwood to burn (Beck, et. al).
Early on, Bantu-speaking nomads used slash and burn methods of farming to allow smalls groups to migrate small distances outward at a time, following the Congo River until reaching what is now central Angola at around 500 B.C.E. (Classic Africa). Slowly but surely, they spread their ways of life, and adopted new ones. Moving East, they picked up new ways of herding livestock from groups in what is now Kenya and Tanzania, and learned to grow bananas. Eventually, the Bantu-speaking people traveled around the Kalahari and Namib deserts. After about 2,700 years since they had begun, they reached the southern tip of Africa. Each time they moved into a new area, the Bantu often encountered groups like BaMbuti, or the San. They had different interactions with various groups, and were rather technologically and agriculturally advanced comparatively: the small groups they came into contact with were still farming with slash-and-burn, and had no ironworking - like lots of Africa, they were still in the stone age. Because of this, the Bantu speaking peoples were easily able to spread across the continent quickly -- today, the BaMbuti only maintain a small part along the Congo River, and the San live around the Kalahari Desert. These groups live a simplistic life, and there culture nor language reflect that of the Bantu-speaking people.
Arguably the most important and long-standing thing that the Bantu integrated into society is language. The Bantu language is suspected to have combined with Persian and Arabic words as the Bantu-speaking peoples traded with Arab traders around the Indian Ocean as early as 1000 A.D. For the next seven centuries (and onward), the Bantu people were important for trade with Arabs and Persians, and vise-versa. The centuries of trading and such between cultures went on to form Swahili, aka Kiswahili. The word itself means “the coast.” Today, Swahili is the second most common language in Africa, with around 240 million people speaking it now.
The groups continued on and grew for thousands of years, having such high points as formation of the kingdom of the great Mapungubwe. By the end of the migrations, they populated the southern third of the continent. Between the 13th and 15th centuries, local chiefdoms were being replaced with larger governmental systems in various regions of Africa, like along the Zambezi river. The governments grew and grew, and villages became powerful cities with specialized workers. Trade continued on, and the Bantu-speaking peoples were dominant forces to be reckoned with. This power came to a halt however by the colonial times around the 15th-16th century(ies), when The powerful -- and even more technologically advanced -- Portuguese fought and conquered lots of Africa, stripping the Bantu-speaking people of their power and rights. In 1730, the Omani Arabs overcame Portugal, enslaving the conquered portions of African groups. This slavery continued on through various decades and leaders (Bantu History).
The Bantu-speaking people had a group-oriented society, with their borders simply being vague, natural ones, like rivers or mountain. Family was very highly regarded, and the little government they had were grouped into small valleys or fields, each one with a hereditary chief, with the next in line being the oldest son, and so on. Since the Bantu are mainly defined by their central language, they branched off into smaller groups and such when they migrated. The village chief would be surrounded by his advisers, who were always male friends or family members. The power of the leader was subjective, but he was never above the law.
As far as food acquisition, the Bantu were confined to agriculture and hunting, with the women taking up the brunt of the former, and the men the latter. For a largely river-based society, fishing was surprisingly unimportant for most groups; their diet consisted mostly of: corn (of South-East Asia), meat (game and beef), vegetables, milk, water, and slightly alcoholic grain beer. They also had taboos on eating: dogs, apes, crocodiles, or snakes owls, crows, and vultures. Bantu-speaking peoples believed in various kinds of magic, and believed heavily in animism. They were monotheistic, and known for rituals simply to get something in return rather than connect with the divine. They also emphasized the importance of ghosts, and their presence in their society(ies) (New World Encyclopedia).
Nok:
The Nok lived in modern-day Nigeria between 500 B.C. and A.D. 200. The group’s name came from the village where the first Nok artifacts were found in a 300 mile stretch of land between the Niger and Benue rivers. They were the first West Africans known to use and smelt iron; this iron could be used for tools and weapons for use and trade. The Nok used terra cotta, or reddish-brown baked clay, to make sculptures Signs of Nok culture were first discovered in 1943 by Bernard Fagg, a British archaeologist (Atwood).
The Nok lived in modern-day Nigeria between 500 B.C. and A.D. 200. The group’s name came from the village where the first Nok artifacts were found in a 300 mile stretch of land between the Niger and Benue rivers. They were the first West Africans known to use and smelt iron; this iron could be used for tools and weapons for use and trade. The Nok used terra cotta, or reddish-brown baked clay, to make sculptures Signs of Nok culture were first discovered in 1943 by Bernard Fagg, a British archaeologist (Atwood).
Djenne-Djeno:
The oldest objects of Djenne-Djeno date back to 250 B.C, and it is the known city in Africa South of Sahara. Permanent settlers formed there around 250 B.C. to 1000 A.D. (Forssberg). By 450 C.E, the Djenne-Djeno occupied about 25 hectares (McIntosh). By the 9th century, they had a wall built, and the first cylindrical brick construction. They the area though deserted after the spread of Islam in their region around 1400 A.D. The remains of the Djenne-Djeno were uncovered in 1977 (Forssberg). They were located on tributary of Niger River, where they fished, herded cattle, and raised rice on floodplains. In the third century B.C, the group learned how to smelt iron.
The Djenne-Djeno weren’t based on a hierarchy of power, and had no central building of government (Nag, 2017). The town was divided into 40 “mounds,” each inhabited by communities with with specific specializations (Forssberg). As they balanced structure of work specialization led to steady economy growth and self sufficient settlement -- they rose to that power by exchanging goods for copper, gold, and salt along camel routes, and importing stone grinders and beads (McIntosh).
The Djenne-Djeno were known for their Terracotta productions of sad-faced horsemen entwined by serpents, or kneeling statues with blisters or welts (Forssberg). The groups used domesticated plants and animals, and raised sheep and goat for meat and clothes. In addition, glass beads and copper ornaments from the groups have been discovered (Nag, 2017). They used smithy to mold copper and bronze into ornaments and forge iron. This smithing continued from 800 A.D. to around 1,200 A.D, by which time the groups had disappeared. They had no religious temple or palace (and no mythology/god), but provide(d) an important site for the study of the evolution of dwellings, industry, and craft techniques (Unesco).
The decline of the Djenne-Djeno is heavily attributed to the environment becoming drier and and drier, and harder for them to live in. Over 200 years, they gradually began to abandon the land and disperse. Simultaneously, the Islam religion began to influence Djenne-Djeno culture, and brass, spindle whorls, and rectilinear houses began to appear (McIntosh).
The oldest objects of Djenne-Djeno date back to 250 B.C, and it is the known city in Africa South of Sahara. Permanent settlers formed there around 250 B.C. to 1000 A.D. (Forssberg). By 450 C.E, the Djenne-Djeno occupied about 25 hectares (McIntosh). By the 9th century, they had a wall built, and the first cylindrical brick construction. They the area though deserted after the spread of Islam in their region around 1400 A.D. The remains of the Djenne-Djeno were uncovered in 1977 (Forssberg). They were located on tributary of Niger River, where they fished, herded cattle, and raised rice on floodplains. In the third century B.C, the group learned how to smelt iron.
The Djenne-Djeno weren’t based on a hierarchy of power, and had no central building of government (Nag, 2017). The town was divided into 40 “mounds,” each inhabited by communities with with specific specializations (Forssberg). As they balanced structure of work specialization led to steady economy growth and self sufficient settlement -- they rose to that power by exchanging goods for copper, gold, and salt along camel routes, and importing stone grinders and beads (McIntosh).
The Djenne-Djeno were known for their Terracotta productions of sad-faced horsemen entwined by serpents, or kneeling statues with blisters or welts (Forssberg). The groups used domesticated plants and animals, and raised sheep and goat for meat and clothes. In addition, glass beads and copper ornaments from the groups have been discovered (Nag, 2017). They used smithy to mold copper and bronze into ornaments and forge iron. This smithing continued from 800 A.D. to around 1,200 A.D, by which time the groups had disappeared. They had no religious temple or palace (and no mythology/god), but provide(d) an important site for the study of the evolution of dwellings, industry, and craft techniques (Unesco).
The decline of the Djenne-Djeno is heavily attributed to the environment becoming drier and and drier, and harder for them to live in. Over 200 years, they gradually began to abandon the land and disperse. Simultaneously, the Islam religion began to influence Djenne-Djeno culture, and brass, spindle whorls, and rectilinear houses began to appear (McIntosh).
Ghana:
(Not to be confused with modern Ghana; located around Senegal and Mauritania, the ancient civilization is almost 400 miles northwest from the modern incarnation of Ghana).
Around the third century A.D, Berber nomads began using camels to cross desert areas. These camels could travel farther and longer with less water than other pack animals. The use of camels to cross the Sahara increased trade routes that carved through a region that was farmed by the Soninke people. These people called their rulers ghana, and eventually Muslim traders started referring to the region as “Ghana.” By the 700s, Ghana was a kingdom whose leaders were getting rich off of taxing trade. Much of West Africa had gold, especially in the forest region just south of the Niger and Senegal rivers. From then until 1350, an estimated ⅔ of the world's harvested gold came from West Africa. They had very little salt, but the Sahara was rich in it the mineral was/is especially useful for preserving meat under the African sun. Arabs and Berbers brought salt, along with cloth, weapons, and other good from Mediterranean ports, which they traded for the gold of Africa. These trades were overseen by the royal tax collector and the guards.
The king of Ghana controlled trade and a powerful army of the Ghanaian empire, so he could demand taxes and gifts from the chiefs of surrounding lands. The king was the only one that could own gold nuggets, and his rooms were lavishly filled with those and other riches. This widespread distribution of gold kept its value from falling. The powerful king was also chief judge, head of a large bureaucracy, religious leader, and a military commander who could call up a large army as needed.
Later in the civilization’s history, Islam spread through with traders who settled south of the Sahara. Flash forward to the 11th century, when Ghanaian kings had Muslim advisers. Although the rulers accepted the religion, many of the normal citizens clung to their animistic (believing that the spirit of animals, plants, and natural forces has a hand in everyday life) traditions and did not convert to Islam. The popularity of Islam throughout the upper class facilitated an increase in literacy, as learning Arabic was necessary for reading the Qu'ran.
Around 1076, the North African Almoravids had conquered Ghana. Although they eventually pulled out of Ghana, the war had disrupted the gold-salt trade, which lost Ghana much of its power; the people of Ghana began acting independently, and trade began to see a decrease -- most moved East, which helped to build up the kingdom of Mali.
Ghana benefited from its environment for several reasons.: it was given the resources of gold, iron, and salt; these are valuable for trade, weapons, preserving meat, and making tools. Although their environment (the Sahara desert) could have made trade difficult due to harsh desert terrain, their land also gave them the opportunity to domesticate camels. This gave them something to help them cross the desert that was previously in their way.
Ghana declined for several reasons. The king lost his trading monopoly. A drought interfered with the ability of the land to sustain cattle and cultivate goods. The Almoravid Muslims began to take over Ghana. In addition to these, gold began getting mined further east, and the trade routes followed away from them. Ghana was targeted by the Sosso ruler Sumanguru and, in 1235, the Mali Empire, under Sundiata Keita, completely eclipsed the once-powerful empire (“The Story").
(Not to be confused with modern Ghana; located around Senegal and Mauritania, the ancient civilization is almost 400 miles northwest from the modern incarnation of Ghana).
Around the third century A.D, Berber nomads began using camels to cross desert areas. These camels could travel farther and longer with less water than other pack animals. The use of camels to cross the Sahara increased trade routes that carved through a region that was farmed by the Soninke people. These people called their rulers ghana, and eventually Muslim traders started referring to the region as “Ghana.” By the 700s, Ghana was a kingdom whose leaders were getting rich off of taxing trade. Much of West Africa had gold, especially in the forest region just south of the Niger and Senegal rivers. From then until 1350, an estimated ⅔ of the world's harvested gold came from West Africa. They had very little salt, but the Sahara was rich in it the mineral was/is especially useful for preserving meat under the African sun. Arabs and Berbers brought salt, along with cloth, weapons, and other good from Mediterranean ports, which they traded for the gold of Africa. These trades were overseen by the royal tax collector and the guards.
The king of Ghana controlled trade and a powerful army of the Ghanaian empire, so he could demand taxes and gifts from the chiefs of surrounding lands. The king was the only one that could own gold nuggets, and his rooms were lavishly filled with those and other riches. This widespread distribution of gold kept its value from falling. The powerful king was also chief judge, head of a large bureaucracy, religious leader, and a military commander who could call up a large army as needed.
Later in the civilization’s history, Islam spread through with traders who settled south of the Sahara. Flash forward to the 11th century, when Ghanaian kings had Muslim advisers. Although the rulers accepted the religion, many of the normal citizens clung to their animistic (believing that the spirit of animals, plants, and natural forces has a hand in everyday life) traditions and did not convert to Islam. The popularity of Islam throughout the upper class facilitated an increase in literacy, as learning Arabic was necessary for reading the Qu'ran.
Around 1076, the North African Almoravids had conquered Ghana. Although they eventually pulled out of Ghana, the war had disrupted the gold-salt trade, which lost Ghana much of its power; the people of Ghana began acting independently, and trade began to see a decrease -- most moved East, which helped to build up the kingdom of Mali.
Ghana benefited from its environment for several reasons.: it was given the resources of gold, iron, and salt; these are valuable for trade, weapons, preserving meat, and making tools. Although their environment (the Sahara desert) could have made trade difficult due to harsh desert terrain, their land also gave them the opportunity to domesticate camels. This gave them something to help them cross the desert that was previously in their way.
Ghana declined for several reasons. The king lost his trading monopoly. A drought interfered with the ability of the land to sustain cattle and cultivate goods. The Almoravid Muslims began to take over Ghana. In addition to these, gold began getting mined further east, and the trade routes followed away from them. Ghana was targeted by the Sosso ruler Sumanguru and, in 1235, the Mali Empire, under Sundiata Keita, completely eclipsed the once-powerful empire (“The Story").
Mali:
The kingdom of Mali peaked in 1400, after the leader Mansa Musa’s reign. Flashback to the 13th century, when Mansa Musa’s great uncle Sundiata Keita was born to the Mandinka tribe. None of the tribes under the sorcerer king's rule were content, but would not form a coalition until Sundiata convinced them to join his conquest to take down the tyrant Soumaoro Kante, who ruled over the region at the time ("Twang Of a Bow" 4:00-5:00). The Mandinka successfully revolted, and Sundiata took control of the land. he quickly claimed more territory and three immense gold mines, and restarted the salt, gold, and slave trades. Sundiata somehow managed to bring the Mandinka tribe all the way to great power as the Mali empire by the early 13th century, and even went as far as to conquer the once-powerful empire of Ghana. After his death in 1255 however, most of the leaders of Mali were corrupt and greedy tyrants. That is, until the incomparably prosperous Mansa Musa came to power.
Mansa Musa was the only other noteworthy Malian leader, best known for putting Mali on the map as the richest country in the known world. He also expanded Mali to its largest known size. These feats lead to his famous tour, “hajj,” where he crashed the market value of gold in mutiple cities by tossed fistfulls of gold dust at passerbys. He also brought educated arabs back from Mecca and Cairo. Mansa Musa claimed Timbuktu and Gao, which could essentially control all trade (more or less) throughout the niger river. The Arabs that Mansa Musa brought back were employed in Timbuktu, and built the Djinguereber mosque, writing importing books from all over the world. Because of this came the popular he saying "salt from the north, gold from the south, and knowledge from timbuktu." (The Empire of Mali - Mansa Musa - Extra History - #3 2:28-7:25).
Timbuktu was a major center of innovation. It became one of the true melting pots of traditional african culture, and muslim religion (The Empire of Mali - Mansa Musa - Extra History - #3, 7:04 - 7:08). Educated/wealthy men and rulers visited and lived there, writing books and thriving in a booming economy. Eventually though, Timbuktu’s busy location began to see and influx of invaders (The Empire of Mali - The Final Bloody Act - Extra History - #5 0:54 - 1:04), who significantly weakened, and eventually crushed the empire (The Empire of Mali - Mansa Musa - Extra History - #3, 6:02 - 6:04).
The kingdom of Mali peaked in 1400, after the leader Mansa Musa’s reign. Flashback to the 13th century, when Mansa Musa’s great uncle Sundiata Keita was born to the Mandinka tribe. None of the tribes under the sorcerer king's rule were content, but would not form a coalition until Sundiata convinced them to join his conquest to take down the tyrant Soumaoro Kante, who ruled over the region at the time ("Twang Of a Bow" 4:00-5:00). The Mandinka successfully revolted, and Sundiata took control of the land. he quickly claimed more territory and three immense gold mines, and restarted the salt, gold, and slave trades. Sundiata somehow managed to bring the Mandinka tribe all the way to great power as the Mali empire by the early 13th century, and even went as far as to conquer the once-powerful empire of Ghana. After his death in 1255 however, most of the leaders of Mali were corrupt and greedy tyrants. That is, until the incomparably prosperous Mansa Musa came to power.
Mansa Musa was the only other noteworthy Malian leader, best known for putting Mali on the map as the richest country in the known world. He also expanded Mali to its largest known size. These feats lead to his famous tour, “hajj,” where he crashed the market value of gold in mutiple cities by tossed fistfulls of gold dust at passerbys. He also brought educated arabs back from Mecca and Cairo. Mansa Musa claimed Timbuktu and Gao, which could essentially control all trade (more or less) throughout the niger river. The Arabs that Mansa Musa brought back were employed in Timbuktu, and built the Djinguereber mosque, writing importing books from all over the world. Because of this came the popular he saying "salt from the north, gold from the south, and knowledge from timbuktu." (The Empire of Mali - Mansa Musa - Extra History - #3 2:28-7:25).
Timbuktu was a major center of innovation. It became one of the true melting pots of traditional african culture, and muslim religion (The Empire of Mali - Mansa Musa - Extra History - #3, 7:04 - 7:08). Educated/wealthy men and rulers visited and lived there, writing books and thriving in a booming economy. Eventually though, Timbuktu’s busy location began to see and influx of invaders (The Empire of Mali - The Final Bloody Act - Extra History - #5 0:54 - 1:04), who significantly weakened, and eventually crushed the empire (The Empire of Mali - Mansa Musa - Extra History - #3, 6:02 - 6:04).
Benin:
Benin was a West African empire -- not to be confused with modern-day Benin -- from the 1200s to the 1600s. Their civilization started with king Ife, whose descendants continued his legacy there. The benin were famous for their skilled brass making that was done via guilds that answer to the king (New World Encyclopedia).
They built their empire by raising a large army to hold territory that stretched from the niger river delta, all the way to lagos nigeria. The leader, known as an “oba,” was in complete control of virtually every aspect of the empire. Religion consisted of such things as human sacrifice and allowance of slaves (New World Encyclopedia). The economy of benin consisted of a large slave trade and a large base of skilled metalsmiths, particularly with bronze, who brought the empire to economic power.
The decline of the benin empire occurred in the 17th century, when the benin empire suddenly murdered eight british representatives, and a subsequent “punitive expedition” (in retaliation) from England destroyed Benin (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Benin was a West African empire -- not to be confused with modern-day Benin -- from the 1200s to the 1600s. Their civilization started with king Ife, whose descendants continued his legacy there. The benin were famous for their skilled brass making that was done via guilds that answer to the king (New World Encyclopedia).
They built their empire by raising a large army to hold territory that stretched from the niger river delta, all the way to lagos nigeria. The leader, known as an “oba,” was in complete control of virtually every aspect of the empire. Religion consisted of such things as human sacrifice and allowance of slaves (New World Encyclopedia). The economy of benin consisted of a large slave trade and a large base of skilled metalsmiths, particularly with bronze, who brought the empire to economic power.
The decline of the benin empire occurred in the 17th century, when the benin empire suddenly murdered eight british representatives, and a subsequent “punitive expedition” (in retaliation) from England destroyed Benin (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Yoruba:
The empire of Yoruba formed in 1000, when they were still known as the “Oya.” They also had a connection to king Ife, and their leaders were known as “Obas” as well. Skilled wood and ivory workers, the empire saw a massive economic expansion from around 1200 to around 1400. So much focus on the economy provided for little to no militarial growth however, and the empire ceased to exist by 1896, with the last Oba being exiled, and dying in 1903.
The empire of Yoruba formed in 1000, when they were still known as the “Oya.” They also had a connection to king Ife, and their leaders were known as “Obas” as well. Skilled wood and ivory workers, the empire saw a massive economic expansion from around 1200 to around 1400. So much focus on the economy provided for little to no militarial growth however, and the empire ceased to exist by 1896, with the last Oba being exiled, and dying in 1903.
Hausa:
The Hausa were a group of farming city states around 1100, who were united by their language. They existed mainly in the savannas east of Mali and Songhai (now known as Nigeria). The groups were briefly conquered by the Songhai, but gained back their independence. Groups divided into large, walled city-states, like Katsina, Kano, or Zazzau/Zaria. Located on trade routes between West Africa and the Mediterranean, the first two of the aforementioned city-states became major trading spots, known for their salt, grains, leather, and dye for their cotton. The Zazzau were known for invading small groups, and selling them off to other states -- in exchange for goods -- as slaves. The Hausa governments were very similar, with ministers and other officials holding checks on an otherwise powerful ruler. Each city-state had an army of horsemen, and were powerful forces in their area. However, the states’ constant clashing never allowed for any kind of empire to form there.
The Hausa were a group of farming city states around 1100, who were united by their language. They existed mainly in the savannas east of Mali and Songhai (now known as Nigeria). The groups were briefly conquered by the Songhai, but gained back their independence. Groups divided into large, walled city-states, like Katsina, Kano, or Zazzau/Zaria. Located on trade routes between West Africa and the Mediterranean, the first two of the aforementioned city-states became major trading spots, known for their salt, grains, leather, and dye for their cotton. The Zazzau were known for invading small groups, and selling them off to other states -- in exchange for goods -- as slaves. The Hausa governments were very similar, with ministers and other officials holding checks on an otherwise powerful ruler. Each city-state had an army of horsemen, and were powerful forces in their area. However, the states’ constant clashing never allowed for any kind of empire to form there.
Songhai:
The massive Songhai Empire began when Mali went into decline in the 1400’s. The Songhai built up an army and extended their territory to the large bend in the Niger River which lies right Gao. Modern Day countries that Songhai had control of were Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guinea, Nigeria, Niger, and Mauritania. They were able to take control of all the important trade routes in the area which gave them easy access to trade with other empires. The slave trade was also important for the economic development of Songhai. Songhai kingdom also used slaves as soldiers (Boley). Gao was turned into the capital of the empire.
Songhai had two great Muslim leaders: The first was Sunni Ali, who built a vast empire by military conquest. Sunni Ali’s rule began in 1464 and lasted 28 years. He had a riverboat fleet of war canoes, and a mobile fighting force on horseback. In 1468, Sunni achieved his first major military triumph: conquering the city of Timbuktu; it had been a very important part of Mali’s empire and come now be used by the Songhai empire. Timbuktu became a thriving cultural and commercial center where Arab, Italian, and Jewish merchants all gathered for trade. Five years later, Sunni Ali had another major military triumph taking over the city of Djenne. To accomplish this, Sunni surrounded the city for 7 years before it finally fell (Britannica). In 1492, Sunni Ali died, and his son became ruler. Muslims in Songhai revolted against however, arguing that he did not practice Islam faithfully. The leader of the revolt was our second influential muslim leader, Askia Muhammad. He drove Sunni Ali’s son from power, and replaced him as the new ruler of Songhai. The Songhai Empire thrived under Askia Muhammad’s rule, and he is widely known for setting up an efficient tax system and appointing able officials.
The Songhai Empire was divided into five provinces, each of which were led by a governor. Officials were appointed to minister the treasury, army, navy, and agriculture.
Almost all of Songhai’s immense wealth came from trading. Troops were stationed around big trading areas around the empire to ensure traders’ safety. Songhai traded with many different groups of people, including the Europeans. Their main exports were traded gold, copper, Kola nuts, slaves for cowries, cloth, horses, and salt (Mclean). The most common occupations were metalworkers, fishermen, and carpenters, many of whom lived and worked in modest stone buildings made with Islamic/African features (Mads).
Despite its wealth and strong educational system, the Songhai lacked modern weapons. China had invented gunpowder by the ninth century, and the Arabs had developed the first gun (which shot arrows in 1304)! The Songhai, however, still fought with swords and spears. Askia Muhammad’s rule began to decline when the Songhai empire broke into a civil war. Then, in 1591, the Moroccan fighting force of several thousand men equipped with gunpowder and cannons, crossed the Sahara and invaded the already tumultuous and corrupt Songhai. Moroccan troops quickly defeated the ill-equipped Songhai warriors, and so the Songhai Empire collapsed quickly under the Moroccan forces ending a 1,000 year period of prosperity.
The massive Songhai Empire began when Mali went into decline in the 1400’s. The Songhai built up an army and extended their territory to the large bend in the Niger River which lies right Gao. Modern Day countries that Songhai had control of were Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guinea, Nigeria, Niger, and Mauritania. They were able to take control of all the important trade routes in the area which gave them easy access to trade with other empires. The slave trade was also important for the economic development of Songhai. Songhai kingdom also used slaves as soldiers (Boley). Gao was turned into the capital of the empire.
Songhai had two great Muslim leaders: The first was Sunni Ali, who built a vast empire by military conquest. Sunni Ali’s rule began in 1464 and lasted 28 years. He had a riverboat fleet of war canoes, and a mobile fighting force on horseback. In 1468, Sunni achieved his first major military triumph: conquering the city of Timbuktu; it had been a very important part of Mali’s empire and come now be used by the Songhai empire. Timbuktu became a thriving cultural and commercial center where Arab, Italian, and Jewish merchants all gathered for trade. Five years later, Sunni Ali had another major military triumph taking over the city of Djenne. To accomplish this, Sunni surrounded the city for 7 years before it finally fell (Britannica). In 1492, Sunni Ali died, and his son became ruler. Muslims in Songhai revolted against however, arguing that he did not practice Islam faithfully. The leader of the revolt was our second influential muslim leader, Askia Muhammad. He drove Sunni Ali’s son from power, and replaced him as the new ruler of Songhai. The Songhai Empire thrived under Askia Muhammad’s rule, and he is widely known for setting up an efficient tax system and appointing able officials.
The Songhai Empire was divided into five provinces, each of which were led by a governor. Officials were appointed to minister the treasury, army, navy, and agriculture.
Almost all of Songhai’s immense wealth came from trading. Troops were stationed around big trading areas around the empire to ensure traders’ safety. Songhai traded with many different groups of people, including the Europeans. Their main exports were traded gold, copper, Kola nuts, slaves for cowries, cloth, horses, and salt (Mclean). The most common occupations were metalworkers, fishermen, and carpenters, many of whom lived and worked in modest stone buildings made with Islamic/African features (Mads).
Despite its wealth and strong educational system, the Songhai lacked modern weapons. China had invented gunpowder by the ninth century, and the Arabs had developed the first gun (which shot arrows in 1304)! The Songhai, however, still fought with swords and spears. Askia Muhammad’s rule began to decline when the Songhai empire broke into a civil war. Then, in 1591, the Moroccan fighting force of several thousand men equipped with gunpowder and cannons, crossed the Sahara and invaded the already tumultuous and corrupt Songhai. Moroccan troops quickly defeated the ill-equipped Songhai warriors, and so the Songhai Empire collapsed quickly under the Moroccan forces ending a 1,000 year period of prosperity.