In the post-classical period, the expansion of trade had a significant effect on civilizations across the world. In Africa, wealth from trade contributed to the developing of wealthy and powerful kingdoms across the continent. Many historians believed that the richest man who ever lived was the ruler of one such African kingdom. Keep reading to learn more about this man and how his kingdom and others came to be.
Ancient African Kingdoms
Before the 10th century, much of Africa was decentralized, with small villages organized along tribal lines. But, with the expansion of trade, centralized solid kingdoms with great wealth began to emerge.
African Kingdoms Map
Here is a map showing some of the mighty African kingdoms that came to power in the post-classical period:
Fig. 1 - map of African kingdoms
West African Kingdoms
In West Africa, trade proved critical in the creation and longevity of kingdoms.
| West African Kingdom | Key Information |
| The Kingdom of Ghana | - established around 300 CE (one of the earliest West African kingdoms)
- took over trade routes previously controlled by the indigenous Berbers of North Africa
- taxed merchants to build up wealth
- also received taxes from the general population and tributes from conquered tribes
- funded a solid military to destroy important trade centers
- all gold was the property of the king
- conquered kings retained a degree of power and served as governors
- collapsed due to military conflict and the degradation of agricultural land by invaders
|
| The Empire of Mali | - established under the rule of Sundiata Keita in the 13th century, who took power from local leaders and usurped their title of Mansa, changing its meaning to the emperor
- had the same territory as the Kingdom of Ghana
- accumulated mass wealth by taking control of the Niger River Trade
- trade connections with the Islamic world led many to convert to Islam
- Mansa Musa became famous for the wealth he accumulated
- the city of Timbuktu became a center of trade, education, and Islam
- collapsed by the 17th century because of the difficulty of governing such a large territory
|
| The Songhay Kingdom | - gained power in the 15th century and used sheer military force to take part in the Empire of Mali
- expanded to control the Niger River and the all-important trade networks under the leadership of Sunni Ali
- usurped the city of Timbuktu and continued to develop it into an Islamic center
- Askia the Great created a centralized administration system by establishing five provinces and removing local leaders
- collapsed as Atlantic Ocean trade networks became more critical than overland routes
- also invaded by Moroccans with the advantage of guns
|
| The Hausa Kingdom | - developed in the 6th century as a loose federation of city-states
- each city had a specialized role, such as producing a particular good or providing military service
- many leaders converted to Islam due to trade relationships, but traditional religions remained important among the general population
- remained independent until the Sokoto Caliphate took over in the early 19th century
|
| The Kingdom of Congo | - developed in the late 14th century and grew in power in the 15th century due to trade with the Portuguese
- work with European powers led the kings to convert to Catholicism
- the Portuguese began to undermine kings' authority with their attempts to expand the slave trade
- Collapsed after the Portuguese killed the last mani Kongo (leader) in 1665
|
| The Kingdom of Judah | - developed as a central slave trading post in the 17th century
- its large military went into the interior of Africa to conquer tribes and brought prisoners to coastal port cities to be sold as slaves
- fell under the wealthy King Haffon in 1727, and the Kingdom of Dahomey took over
|
Mansa Musa's Pilgrimage
Perhaps the most famous of Mali’s emperors was Mansa Musa, who some historians believe to be the wealthiest man to have ever lived. In 1324, Mansa Musa set out on the Hajj, a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. On this journey, Mansa Musa stopped in Cairo, Egypt, where he gave away so much gold that its value dropped drastically in Egypt. His pilgrimage helped increase global awareness of the Empire of Mali.
Fig. 2 - depiction of Mansa Musa
South African Kingdoms
Let’s look further South at the Kingdoms of Mapungubwe and Zimbabwe, where we'll see that trade was just as critical.
South African Kingdoms: The Kingdom of Mapungubwe
The Kingdom of Mapungubwe was one of Southern Africa’s first kingdoms, established around the 9th century. The kingdom’s economy depended on agriculture, cattle herding, and trade fueled by its iron and copper deposits. After two centuries of power, the empire began to decline in the 13th century due to the exhaustion of local resources and the growth of trade centers further North.
South African Kingdoms: The Kingdom of Zimbabwe
The Kingdom of Zimbabwe was formed in the 13th century after the collapse of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe. Great Zimbabwe's capital became a major trade center, with ivory and gold as critical resources. In the mid-15th century, the prince of the kingdom, Nyatsimba Mutota, left to found his empire known as the Kingdom of Mutapa. The Kingdom of Mutapa quickly eclipsed the Kingdom of Zimbabwe in power. So the Kingdom of Zimbabwe's territory went to the Kingdom of Mutapa in the North and Butua in the South.
Fig. 3 - ancient ruins from the Kingdom of Zimbabwe
The Influence and Significance of African Kingdoms
The growth of these African kingdoms changed much of the continent's social, political, and economic structure by bringing together numerous tribes under a centralized power. The trade networks they developed not only brought unprecedented wealth but also brought Africa into the global arena, where new religions such as Christianity and Islam held significant influence. But, while the wealth of trade might have made these African kingdoms powerful, it also made them a target of European imperialist ambitions as the post-classical era was coming to a close, significantly as the slave trade was expanding.
African Kingdoms - Key takeaways
- Before the tenth century, much of Africa was decentralized, with small villages organized along tribal lines. But with wealth from trade with European and Islamic powers, powerful and wealthy kingdoms began to emerge.
- In Western Africa, powerful kingdoms included:
- In South Africa, powerful kingdoms included the Kingdom of Mapungubwe and the Kingdom of Zimbabwe.
- The growth of kingdoms changed much of Africa's political, social, and economic structure. New religions, namely Christianity and Islam, also gained influence.
- While the wealth from trade made these kingdoms powerful, it made them a target of European imperialist ambitions as the post-classical era was closing.
References
- Fig. 1 - Map of African Kingdoms (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:African-civilizations-map-pre-colonial.svg) by Jeff Israel (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:ZyMOS) licensed by CC BY SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en)
- Fig. 3 - Ruins from Kingdom of Zimbabwe (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Conical_Tower_-_Great_Enclosure_III_(33736918448).jpg) by Andrew Moore (https://www.flickr.com/people/84985982@N00) licensed by CC BY SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en)
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