Mostafa+and+Jacob's+Ghana+Project

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 * The Ghana Empire (830-1235)**

**In this wiki you will learn many things about the Ghana Empire**!

**Geographical Location**

The Ghana Empire is located in mid-west Africa. It is surrounded by present day Togo(east), Burkina Faso(north) and the Ivory Coast(west). Ghana is also bordered by the Atlantic ocean on the South side of the empire.

**Origins of the Ghana Empire** The origin of the Ghana empire still remains obscure, however by the 5th, and the 8th century AD Ghana had become important enough for its fame as "The Land of Gold" to reach Baghdad (the center of trade). By 1068 it was reported in a book by an Arab scholar of Cordoba by the name of Al-Bakri that Ghana was the largest, wealthiest and most powerful state in West Africa. Read more about the origin here: [|Origin of Ghana] 

**Founders** The founding ruling people of Ghana "the Land of Gold" were the Serahule (Soninke), the indigenous inhabitants of the area, who established their capital at (Koumbi) Kumbi Saleh, at the time a leading trading centre of the Western Sudan. The Serahule who lived to the north of the upper waters of the Niger River formed themselves into a strong trading state. This state spread its power over many neighbouring peoples and in the process the trading state became an empire. It commanded a large region of trade, security and strong government. It lasted for several hundred years and was deeply respected by travelers who came within its borders, as well as those who read or heard about it beyond its borders. 

**Economics ** The Ghana empire gained majority of its wealth from gold, which came from the very richest gold mines in the world, the domestication of the camel also brought an increase in trade because they could transport the goods easily. The sonike people also sold slaves, gold, salt and copper for textiles, beads and finished goods. 

**Social systems** Theres a black snake named bida, demands a sacrifice every year. Every year a virgin was offered up, until one year, the fiancé of the intended victim, rescued her. Cheated of his sacrifice because he rescued her, Bida took his revenge on the region. A terrible drought took hold of Ghana and gold mining fell into decline.

Every child in a traditional ghana community was a accepted commodity and the people would be sure to make sure the child is happy and follows all traditions. Behind every Ghanaian there is an extended family which is the source of strength and assurance

The traders had there own Islamic towns and around 1050 an extreme religious moment arose and followers of Islam waged war against all non-Muslims, in 1076 they captured the capital of Ghana and forced the people of Ghana to convert to Islam or die.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">With the growth of the empire, the Serahule, were inventing new methods of governing themselves. These systems, at that stage of social organisation, needed a single authority or government that could rule over many lesser authorities or governments. Thus, they created a central authority that was ruled by only the king. Then the king would divide power by making states. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 160%;">**Trade** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%; line-height: 28px;">For more details about the culture visit this [|website] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%; line-height: 28px;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%; line-height: 28px;">Government **
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Gold
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Slaves
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Ostrich Feathers
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Ivory
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Gum

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> **The Rise of Power** <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%; line-height: 27px;">The Suninke people may have been the first empire in Africa to make iron, these iron tools and weapons gave them an advantage over other empires. Most of there power came from gold and salt, and gold was the common currency around the world and west Africa had lots of it. They also grew rich from taxing the traders, who came to west Africa to trade.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**The Fall of Ghana** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> **( for more info open this [|website])** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">The fall of Ghana empire was due to many internal conflicts within the empire. The first reason they fell was because of the way in which the empire was organized. It was made up of many states and peoples who lacked political and cultural unity, which the kings of Ghana failed to achieve.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Reasons of Decline:**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> Military Failure
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Poor Leadership
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">No unity within peoples of empire

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Impact on the World ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">The Ghana Empire left behind legacies that shaped the worlds economy today:

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 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">They Domesticated the Camel- This added a form of transportation to Bedouins.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">They added gold as a currency- Due to this, gold today is used as a 3rd currency in all places in the world.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Cited Work** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> "Ghana Empire | Rise & Origins." // Access Gambia | Web Directory & Info. // Web. 23 Jan. 2012. <http://www.accessgambia.com/information/ghana.html> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">"History of Ghana." //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Ghana HomePage, Resource for News, Sports, Facts, Opinions, Business and Entertainment //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. <http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/history/>

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%; line-height: 24px;">"The Kingdom Of Ghana." AFRICAN KINGDOMS- Kingdoms of Anicent African History. Web. 26. 2021. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%; line-height: 24px;"> <http:www.africankingdoms.com //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%; line-height: 24px;">/> // "The Story of Africa| BBC World Service." // BBC - Homepage //. Web. 24 Jan. 2012. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> <http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/4chapter1.html>