Berbers & Soninke
These two North African ethnic groups were bound by mutual dependence in trade, cultural exchange, and at times conflict, significantly shaping the development of both the Ghana Empire and the broader region
Who were the Berbers and the Soninke?
The Berbers played this vital role in the trans-Saharan trade routes, helping to transport goods like gold and salt.
What are traders?
Ghana was located near rich gold mines in West Africa. The empire did not mine the gold directly, but controlled and taxed the flow of gold that came from the southern regions through its territory. The empire taxed this group of people each time they entered and exited Ghana.
Who are traders?
This was the capital city of the Ghana Empire and a key center of trade.
What is Kumbi Saleh?
This ethnic group, a Muslim Berber dynasty from North Africa, invaded Ghana to spread Islam and gain control over the trans-Saharan trade routes dominated by Ghana. Their invasion weakened the empire's control over trade and contributed to its decline.
Who are the Almoravids?
This Indigenous North African group lived as nomads from Morocco to Egypt and were instrumental in establishing trade routes across the Sahara Desert, connecting Ghana to Mediterranean markets across all of northern Africa.
Who are the Berbers?
Traders used this vast desert separating North Africa from West Africa to exchange goods.
What is the Sahara Desert?
The empire facilitated the exchange of gold for these "goods". (Name at least 3)
What are salt, copper, textiles, ivory? (Enslaved people were also traded for gold. People are not, and never were, "goods". Purposeful dehumanization of people helped enslavers and buyers of people to justify their actions.)
Arab geologist and historian, Al-Bakri, noted the use of these three materials in the construction of Ghana's capital, including homes, palaces, and mosques.
What are mud, wood, and stone?
In 1076 CE, the Almoravids attacked the empire and captured this key city, disrupting the stability of the Ghana Empire. Although Ghana briefly regained control, the empire never fully recovered from the invasion, and its dominance over trade was significantly weakened.
What is Kumbi Saleh?
This West African ethnic group, primarily found in regions around modern-day Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal, are credited with founding the Ghana Empire (also known as Wagadu) in the 5th century.
Who are the Soninke?
The empire's control over the trans-Saharan trade routes allowed it to control and tax the flow of this natural resource, which was a valuable commodity used for preserving food, seasoning, and treating medical conditions.
What is salt?
By controlling the trade routes to these particular mines and imposing taxes on salt traders, the empire profited immensely from the exchange of gold for salt.
What are salt mines?
The king of Ghana, known by this other name, had a powerful army to secure trade and protect the empire’s borders from external threats.
What is "war chief" or "Ghana"?
The Almoravid invasion disrupted the gold/salt trade routes, costing the Ghana empire control over the trans-Saharan trade, and reducing its income from this method of money collection.
What is taxation?
The Soninke built a prosperous empire based on control of key trade routes that passed through the Sahel, enabling them to dominate the trade of these two natural resources.
What are salt and gold?
Controlled by the Ghana Empire, this precious metal was a major export of the Empire of Ghana and was used as currency across the Mediterranean.
What is gold?
Traders in the Empire of Ghana were taxed at these two points during their journey.
What are entry into and exit out of Ghana?
Al-Bakri wrote about these two separate areas within Kumbi Saleh: one for the king and one for the Muslim merchants.
What are the royal district and the merchant district?
Competing trade routes, particularly those controlled by this emerging empire, shifted economic dominance away from Ghana. This empire absorbed control of the trade routes and eventually marked the end of the Ghana Empire.
What is the Mali Empire?
The Soninke obtained these animals from the Berbers, giving them a military advantage over neighboring peoples. These animals were key to the Soninke’s ability to expand their empire and maintain dominance over their territory.
What are horses?
Berber traders introduced and spread their religion across West Africa. While the Soninke initially maintained their indigenous beliefs, the influence of the Berber's religion grew as Muslim traders and scholars passed through the region, leading to the eventual adoption of this religion by some segments of the Soninke elite.
What is Islam?
By controlling the trade routes to the salt mines and imposing taxes on salt traders, the empire profited immensely from the exchange of "this for that".
What is gold for salt?
Al-Bakri noted that the king of Ghana practiced this religion, while Muslim traders and merchants practiced Islam.
What is traditional African religion?
Climate change caused the Sahara Desert to spread farther south and encroach upon previously fertile areas. This reduced Ghana's income from taxes and trade gained from this type of lifestyle.
What is agrarian lifestyle (or farming/agricultural productivity or similar)?