African Empire Essay

The accomplishments of trans regional exchange gold across Cario was due to the Mali empire. Mansa Musa who traveled to Cairo for a royal visit and Egyptian officials felt a lot of generosity from Mansa Musa who gave gold to any office of the sultanate (Doc 1). Since this document was written in the 14th century during the time of restoration of expansion trans-regional, it seems likely the economy in Cairo grew since the exchange of gold. Travelers who came to Timbuktu were amazed at how

Therefore, the Empire of Mali was very rich because of salt trade, and because they had a bunch of gold to trade for

In Medieval Africa, many kingdoms generated wealth and trade throughout Africa. They were supported by salt and gold and were connected by Islam. In Africa, medieval empires traded gold among themselves through the use of Islam, and the use of geographical features to extend their transregional networks of trade. Gold was abundant throughout Africa, which led to wealth throughout the medieval empires. Islam was the basis for the spread of gold in various regions.

In Africa during the Post-Classical era, 600-1450 CE, the Saharan was no longer a barren wasteland hardly suitable for travel, but, an essential part of both North African and Sub-Saharan West African societies. Camels and caravans allowed for quicker and more effective traveling. With trading becoming increasingly popular in this area, it provided the resources to build new and larger political structures. During this era, Africa’s economy began to change and the western part of Sub-Saharan was no different. With the Trans-Saharan trade routes ability to increase with the help of wealthier Islamic states, it allowed for the spread of religious and political ideas such as larger empires and the Islamic faith in which both greatly influenced

They exchanged products with people from different regions. The merchants came to distant places with items of great value, such as cocoa, gems, cotton or precious feathers. The book displays this aspect when the king was rewarding his artisans for what he ordered them. He said, “Give each of these, my grandfathers, a portion of various rich cloths, and huipiles and skirts for my grandmothers; and cotton, chiles, corn, squash seeds and beans, the same amount to each”

This gave them an advantage because people could travel by boat to trade. But according to the map on Source #4, the Empires were right between the salt and gold mines, which was a reasonable place for trade. Mansa Musa, Mali’s greatest leader, was said to be the richest man alive. He ruled for twenty-five years, from 1312 to 1337. But during these times, Mansa Musa gained control of important trade routes and helped spread Islam.

East and West Africa from 1000 to 1500 CE had profound differences in forms of government, with West Africa being kingdom based, and East Africa city-state based. The conversion of Eastern and Western African ruling elites compacted trading between themselves and Islamic traders from Mesopotamia, China, India, and as far away as Oceania. The relatively stable political environment from 1000-1500 CE in Sub-Saharan Africa attracted displaced peoples from the Abbasid empire in Northern Africa, with West Africa utilizing Trans-Saharan trade, and East Africa utilizing mariner trade routes. The East and West developed in clearly different ways, but paralleled each other in a way in which the political, social, and economic environments facilitated stable trade in the region, as well as a distinct blend between Islamic culture and African tradition.

There was a high demand for luxurious goods that were special to each region which caused a great increase in trade. This also occurred on the Trans-Saharan trade routes with gold. Religion also played a big factor in why trade was increasing in these two trade routes. Increases in technology helped trade become more efficient and faster. For example, the compass helped people trade along the Indian Ocean sea lanes.

Some people lived in larger, centralized states, while other lived in simple village communities. Islam was one of the most widespread religions in Africa before missionaries came to convert them to Christianity. This might have been a more positive influence if the Europeans hadn’t viewed the Africans as a people in need of refinement and guidance instead of understanding and respecting their culture. However, one benefit of Europe’s growing control of Africa was that the transatlantic slavery slowly came to an end, but in East Africa, slavery continued to run rampant. Although the end of much of the slavery did rid Africa of much exploitation, it continued in other ways including the harvest of copper, ivory, and other resources taken from the Congo, civilians forced into hard labor for little compensation, and little to no control of the government was given to native

As for salt, it was seen as a major resource for its nutritional and preservation qualities. It was a vital resource that these Mali people used. The Niger river allowed the Mali empire to trade easily, as the current would calmly drift them into other civilizations. Both empires also utilized camels as the river was not always accessible. All in all these trade routes allowed these civilizations to expand their wealth, and distance of trade.

"The slave trade actually prevented the coming into being of an agrarian revolution in Ghana, and likewise an industrial revolution. Because before you can industrialize you need to have stable agricultural production.” (“Slavery 's long effects on Africa”, para 6) Since during that time they got attacked to kidnap people and burn places they had nothing to start living. “The period between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries was a time of economic stagnation for Africa, which fell further and further behind the economic progress of Europe as the years passed by.” (“Riches & Misery: The Consequences of the Atlantic Slave Trade”, para 5)

There have been various perceptions concerning the history of Africa, and some of these have portrayed Africa in more negative than positive ways. In an attempt to examine the historical aspect of Africa through various lenses, this essay presents an analysis of evidence that have been brought forth towards understanding Africa’s role in world history, as well as reasons and lessons from the negative portrayal of Africa. The history of Africa has been viewed and understood through a variety of lenses in the past few hundred years. To begin with, the origin of the name Africa in itself has drawn a number of controversies that stem from the different perspectives through which the name has been examined.

The system of bureaucracy seen in Ptolemaic Egypt was impossible in the Seleucid nation, as it did not have a homologous population (lecture notes, September 20, 2016). Instead, it was comprised of many different populations with localized governments giving the people more autonomy. The Seleucid government was less rigid, had less land control, and placed an increased amount of trust in the leaders of each province area. Each province was able to have its own legal system and political system, with the only central laws surrounding taxation to the Seleucid government and a definitive exchange rate for the differing currencies (lecture notes, September 20, 2016).

When a region has to export goods It’s usually involves the things that are not available in their region of importing. The ocean wind have worked perfectly with the Europeans to use, They formed a triangle trade, so then it gets to each area and get what they need to get to. Mostly when they ocean winds is great to ship they use this time for shiping main goods such as food, crops, sugar,cotton, copper, and especially guns. Mostly in the middle of age of exploration regions did not have money to get them food and things they need by shipping they would do a contract with the place that they will export from the contract they say, Like you give me food and I will give you copper, so it’s exactly like a deal

During the period of imperialism in Africa all of the countries were competing for the title of being the richest and the strongest. In fact, the whole scramble for Africa was an opportunity for countries to enhance their overall economy. For example, King Leopold II of Belgium was determined to get the area of land so he can become more wealthy. France’s politicians thought that an overseas company would strengthen the country when it came to wealth, prestige, and power, so as a result they invested in land more toward the west and north-west. Britain wanted to protect their trading routes which required them to purchase land in East Africa, and they they soon discovered the rewards of the land so the were determined to obtain as much as possible.