West African Kingdoms

The Beginning * One of the greatest kingdoms in Africa we will study is Ghana around the year 500 C.E.

The Beginning * It is important to note that while there exists a country called “Ghana” today, also in West Africa, the original Kingdom in Ghana was located more to the North and was much larger.

Early Communities and Villages Before the kingdoms started, people began as farmers working together in large extended families. Extended families including grandparents, parents, children, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. The average size was usually between 15-20 people. Extended families joined to create small villages. Small villages were self-sustaining (worked together to farm and trade) and provided members with protection.

Old remains – Dhar Tichitt (current day Mauritania)

Technology / Ironworking By 500 C.E., people in West Africa were creating their own tools made out of iron. The process, called smelting, consists of heating and melting ore in order to get iron from it. The iron was made to make farming tools which would help the people clear land and grow crops quicker and easier.

Smelting Process

Technology + Trade = Bam! The tools helped the farmers produce more food than was needed. This was called “surplus.” The surplus was used in two ways: A) To feed other people that didn’t farm – allowing them to do other jobs (weaving, pottery, metalwork) B) Trade with other villages for goods that they needed along the trade routes.

Villages to Cities Villages that were along trade routes attracted people looking to work. Villages often grew into cities this way. One of the first urbanized area in West Africa established by 900 C.E. – Jenne-jeno (today Mali)