Africa before transatlantic slavery
Egypt
first of many great civilizations
over 2000 years old by the time rome was built
Kingdom of Ghana
traded in gold between ninth and thirteenth century
had one king or emperor
had an army of 200000 men
Kingdom of Benin and Ife
led by the Yoruba
civilization goes as far back as 500BC
highly skilled in: ivory carving, pottery, rope and gun production
Songhay kingdom
grew very powerful and prosperous between 1450 and 1550
had an organised system of governemnt
developed currency
had libraries and universities
meeting place for poets, scholars and artists from all over Africa
kingdom of Mali
Spread across much of west and north-east Africa
at largest 2000km wide
reached height during 14th century