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Ancient Ghana Research Paper

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Throughout the ages, Africa has been populated by a diverse array of peoples, whose cultural, ethnic, and sociological differences have been shaped by the continents varied landscape ( ). Known for being the three magnificent trading territories in West Africa. Ghana, Mali, and Songhay were three very closely associated, but separate African civilizations that prospered and dominated West Africa for more than 300 years.
Ancient Ghana was a rich and powerful empire. Despite the name Ancient Ghana is not related to the country we know today. The Ghana empire held power approximately between 830 and 1230 ( ). The empire arouse beside the Niger river, situated between gold and salt mines. Located in what we know now as the southeastern Mauritania, …show more content…

The empire was rich in gold and became a leading force in the trans-Saharan trade. The economy of Ancient Ghana received their wealth and power from the mines, the use of iron weapons, decimating neighboring villages, and farming along the river( ). The prosperity of the empire is mainly due to the role they played in the trans-Saharan trade, the empire traded with Muslim countries of the Middles east ( ). Gold and salt were the central bases of revenue, gold being extremely important to Ghana causing the empire to develop quickly. The trading activities that constituted the backbone of Ghana’s economy were the sale of gold, kola nuts, and ivory to cities along the Mediterranean, in exchange for salt ( ). The gold was in high demand but a small supply was available. Merchants and traders traveled long distances to trade with Ghana. Which allowed the empire to price their gold at the …show more content…

The king was extremely powerful, he was thought to possess divine powers. The solidity of the government and social-political stability of Ancient Ghana rested on the actions of the king. Whenever the people faced him they knelt and showered dust over their hands as a sign or complete respect. He was the head of his military with over 200,000 trained warriors. He had a council of ministers who aided him in all his decisions, but his say was absolute. No one could question the king. The council was made up of generals, judges, counselors, and governors. As Ancient Ghana prospered, the system became more complex. Lesser kings were assigned to the regions farther from the empire, and numerous rulers came into play. Although, the king still held total power over the

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