Kingdom of Ghana A.D. 300 - 1000

Labour Specialization Terms to Understand Caravan Agriculture Merchant Labour Specialization

Location 400 miles NW of the modern country with the same name When the country of Ghana won their independence, they took the name of the nearby, famous ancient kingdom Present-day Mali and Mauritania

Where we locate the Kingdom of Ghana

Kingdom of Ghana - Beginnings Factor 1: Metal working Iron made strong tools for agriculture and battle. Better tools brought more food and more food increased the population. Factor 2: Labour Specializing With a growing population, jobs were specialized. People were trained for specific jobs – cloth makers, fishermen, government officials.

A Kingdom based on Trade The Kingdom of Ghana became a centre for trade between Northern Africa and regions south of Ghana. The important items of trade were salt and gold. Northern Africa traded: Salt, horses, cloth, swords, books Kingdom of Ghana traded: Gold and ivory

A Kingdom based on Trade Ghana wealth was based on the trade of salt and gold. They did not own the gold or salt mines, they simply controlled the trade routes between them. How does a kingdom gain wealth when they do not own the commodity (item)? Taxes

Let’s Make Some Money – Ghana Style Step One The gold is mined south of the Kingdom Step Two The gold travels through Ghana to reach merchants from Northern Africa with the salt and other commodities. Step Three Ghana taxes the item to make money.

Let’s Trade – Ghana Style Since the Arab traders and forest people did not speak the same languages, they used a system of “silent barter”. Arab traders would spread out their items that were ready for trade and leave. The forest people would see what had been left, and then leave some gold to trade for the items. If the Arab traders were satisfied with what was offered, they would take the gold and leave. If not, they would go away again and wait for the forest people to return and leave more gold.

Ghana Why did it succeed? Metal Works Ghana had iron as a resource to make tools and weapons. Labour Specialization Ghana was very organized. Trade Control Ghana controlled the gold and salt trade between North and South Africa. Why did it fail?

Ghana’s Decline Too much competition for control of trade routes. Decline in gold production – less trade in Ghana. Ghana’s Decline Food shortages and drought forced many to leave the kingdom. Invasion by the Almoravids (1060) took over control of trade and many cities.

Review How did Ghana become a major trading kingdom? Why did Ghana’s power begin to fade?