Kingdom of Ghana

Did you know the modern nation-state of Ghana is named in honor of the former empire and kingdom of Ghana? Maybe more interesting is the fact that the Kingdom of Ghana was located in a different area entirely. Considering that at one point the kings of Ghana were considered to be the richest men in the world, it's safe to say this was an important and influential empire. Learn all about the history of this post-classical African Empire and the Kingdom of Ghana's importance to see why its achievements and historical legacy inspired the new nation-state to adopt Ghana as its name upon independence.

Ancient Kingdom of Ghana

The Ancient Kingdom of Ghana was actually called Wagadugu, and the name Ghana was the word used to describe the kings by the Islamic travelers and historians who wrote about this kingdom. The word meant war chief.

We owe most of our knowledge about the Kingdom and Empire of Ghana to these Muslim scribes, who were impressed by the kingdom's wealth and prosperity. They described a place so rich that the dogs wore golden collars and the horses slept on luxurious carpets.

Their wealth was due to their location close to many sources of gold. As noted in the introduction, the location of the ancient Kingdom of Ghana was not where the modern state of Ghana is located on the West Coast of Africa today. It was instead, farther north and inland and included parts of the modern states of Mauritania, Mali, and Senagal.

Fig 1 - Map showing the location of the ancient Kingdom of Ghana in relation to modern day states.

Kingdom of Ghana Time Period and Brief History

Unfortunately, the Kingdom of Ghana's history remains mysterious.

The Kingdom of Ghana itself had no written language, so historians must rely on historic reports of the kingdom from other areas, oral tradition, and their best interpretation of these sources, which can be unreliable. Archeological evidence also helps them piece together the story of the Kingdom of Ghana's time period and the story of its rise and fall.

Early History and Rise

There is evidence that the area that came to constitute the Kingdom of Ghana had been inhabited since at least the 4th century. The Soninke Tribe is considered by historians today to be responsible for founding the kingdom and launching its expansion and path to glory.

According to oral tradition, the first king was named Dingha Cisse. His successors expanded their power by absorbing nearby areas and kingdoms as vassal states. Historians are unsure if the kings of Ghana ruled these areas in a centralized governing structure or ruled as a sort of boss of bosses arrangement in association with the local rulers.

By around the year 1000 CE, the Kingdom of Ghana had grown considerably and held control over an empire that stretched from the Niger River to the Senegal River. This area was rich in gold, and its trade was fundamental to the empire's growth and power. It was the first major complex civilization and empire in West Africa.

Decline

Its success may have brought it into conflict with others, and by the mid-11th century, it faced the threat of invasion from neighboring Muslim kingdoms. Most notably, the Berber dynasty of the Almoravids from Morocco is believed by some historians to have sacked the capital city of Koumbi Saleh around 1076.

Other historians argue this attack was likely folklore and that there is little strong archeological evidence of large-scale conflict and rapid decline. However, even they acknowledge that conflict and tensions with neighboring states very likely did play a role in the decline of the empire. Other scholars believe climate change and the advance farther south of the Sahara made farming more difficult and played a role in the empire's decline.

Regardless of the exact causes, it's clear the Kingdom of Ghana entered into a period of decline after its peak around the turn of the millennium. Around 1240 CE, it was absorbed into the growing Mali Empire.

Fig 2 - Map of the Eastern Hemisphere around 800 CE, showing the size of the Kingdom of Ghana relative to other kingdoms and empires.

Kingdom of Ghana Timeline

• Circa 300 CE: evidence of human settlement in the area.
• 1000 CE: Kingdom of Ghana reaches its peak, famous for its gold.
• 1076 CE: the capital of Koumbi Saleh may have been sacked by a neighboring kingdom.
• 1154 CE: a written account indicates the rulers of the Kingdom of Ghana had converted to Islam
• 1240 CE: the Kingdom of Ghana was absorbed into the growing Mali Empire.

Kingdom of Ghana Culture

Since the Kingdom of Ghana did not have their own form of writing, the historical record on their culture and way of life is sparse. That means it is hard to draw clear conclusions about the Kingdom of Ghana's culture. Nearly all accounts came from the Islamic scribes, so are second hand sources, and there are some contradictions and inaccuracies.

According to the account of geographer Al-Bakri, in a chronicle about Saharan African called Roads and Kingdoms published in 1057, the capital city had two districts. One district was home to the Muslim residents, while the other was home to the king. He described the religion practiced by non-Muslims as one of paganism and the worship of idols.

Al-Bakri described the king holding a daily court where he would hear grievances from his subjects. It is in this account that he describes the king being guarded by dogs with elaborate golden collars.

According to Al-Bakri, Muslims served as ministers in the king's court. A later account written in 1154 described the kingdom as having fully converted to Islam by that point.

There is evidence that the Kingdom of Ghana had an advanced society with clear divisions of labor and successful large scale agricultural cultivation. The lavish descriptions of the king's court from observers like Al-Bakri indicate the Kingdom of Ghana's culture was a vibrant one, at least for the ruling class.

Kingdom of Ghana Trade and Economy

The Kingdom of Ghana's prosperity was due to trade.

Their location around ample sources of gold gave them a distinct advantage. The King of Ghana held a monopoly on trade of gold nuggets found in the empire's land. Imports and exports were also both taxed. This system not only allowed the empire to accumulate more wealth, but it is also evidence of a highly organized society. Reports described a strong military, and that the kings often sent lavish gifts to foreign officials and dignitaries.

In addition to gold, the Kingdom of Ghana's trade primarily consisted of selling ivory, slaves, and textiles to Muslim traders, from which they bought salt, horses, and swords. Their active trade was a key factor in their growth and prosperity.

Fig 3 - A painting depicting Berber trade with the city of Timbuktu, part of the nearby Songhai Empire.

Kingdom of Ghana Importance

The Kingdom of Ghana's importance is primarily due to its status as the first major, complex, and wealthy civilization in West Africa. According to some accounts, between 15,000 and 20,000 people inhabited the capital city of Koumbi Saleh. This was an impressive number for the time period and the harsh climate of the nearby desert.

Although the empire would ultimately decline, its nearly 700 year existence is a testament to its success in creating a stable society. After its conquest by the Mali Empire, the area would be conquered first by the Songhai Empire and then by Arabs from Morocco.

After around 1500, the incursion of Portuguese slave traders and the expanded slave trade with Europe helped destabilize West Africa, setting the stage for European imperialist domination of Africa in the late 1800s.

In the second half of the twentieth century, during the wave of decolonization, Africans looked to their history for national symbols to honor in their assertion of independence and nation building. The decision of the former colony of the Gold Coast, the first colonized African nation to achieve independence, to name itself after this first significant African civilization and empire is a testament to the Kingdom of Ghana's importance.