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Empires of Gahna, Gold-salt trade - Coggle Diagram
Empires of Gahna
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Empire of Ghana
Trade across the Sahara had existed for centuries. However it was infrequent and irregular because of the harsh desert conditions.
The ironmaking technologies that had developed by 500 BC in West Africa enabled trade as people manufactured agricultural tools, weaponry, and other implements.
The iron weapons helped West African empires keep order on the trade routes, providing safe passage to merchants.
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Iron tools also helped increase agricultural production, and agricultural surplus could be traded.
Plentiful food also meant that more people could specialize in areas such as metalworking, trading, or administration.
By the eleventh century, Arabic writing became important for recording contracts, sharing information, and keeping other records.
Pottery made locally could be used to store and transport goods, and canoes were used to carry materials and goods along the Niger River to trading towns.
Most pack animals—oxen, donkeys, and horses—could not travel very far in the hot, dry Sahara without rest or water.
Third century AD, Berber nomads began using camels.
The camel could plod steadily over much longer distances, covering as much as 60 miles in a day. In addition, it could travel more than ten days without water, twice as long as most pack animals.
With the camel, nomads blazed new routes across the desert and trade increased.
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social organization
as ghanas rule strengthener and trade continued to connect people and communities, the empires cities, at least, began to develop similarites.
in Ghana the king was considered the supreme ruler an administrative class helped the king rule the government
other segments that emerged in Ghana's society included miner, agricultural laborers, metalworkers, and leather crafters.
skilled craftsman such as blacksmiths and leather crafters enjoyed a privileged place in society. some where even supported by the king's court
Ghana was a matrilineal society, meaning that ancestry was traced through the mother's lineage. Inheritances also passed through the mother's lineage.
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