Ghana, Gold, and It’s History!

Gold, Gold, Gold!  Yup that’s what Ghana was known for. The kingdom of Ghana was so rich, that even there animals were too. During the 9th and 11th centuries (C.E) of Ghana, dogs wore golden collars. Not to mention, horses slept on fancy plush carpets. Now that’s just the animals, imagine what Ghana’s kings were. All I’m going to say is pretty rich! With Ghana being wealthy in gold, they became a leading force in the trans-Saharan trade network.

Ghana was the first nation to gain its own independence. An African nationalists named Kwame Nkrumah had helped Ghana fight for their independence as well as their political rights. Kwame was Ghana’s first president and was responsible for the Organization of the Pan-African unity, in 1963 of Ethiopia. The Organization of Pan-African Unity originated from the Pan-African movement. The main goal of the Pan-African movement was to give Africans the idea that they were united as one, eventually helping them to stick and work together. Other efforts such as ending slavery and the slave trade and colonizing Africa was part of it as we’ll. Gladly, in 1807, the Great Britain abolished the African slave trade.

Did you know where the human kind began? Africa was the first continent in which human life began. Well should I say that’s what evidence suggested… Science techniques known as fossil identification, radiocarbon dating, and DNA analysis lead to the discovery of human existence. Fossils are preserved remains that allowed the past life of animals, humans, plants and other organisms to be traced back. Because Africa’s oldest fossil of the early human ancestors was found, the stages of evolution in Africa were able to be discovered. DNA analysis allowed a specific organism to be identified. In this case, a genetic footprint was able to show the generation of Africans, passed down from one to another. Radiocarbon dating age was much of a long process. “Living organisms absorb tiny amounts of carbon from the atmosphere”. With the use of carbon, researchers were able to predict the Age of Africans. Who would think that such things could be done to discover the early life of humans? However, although science techniques led to the history of their existence life, it’s possible for the evidence to not be true.

Influential individuals such as WEB DuBois, Marcus Garvey, and Kwame himself held conferences in order to help make the movement a success. The Organization of the Pan-African unity wanted to dominate European control of the continent, make Africa feel like a comfortable for all people of the African descent, and lastly have all African countries work together to improve each country’s economy. Kwame knew with the use of this, it was possible to strengthen the country’s independence as a whole too.

A ruler in Ghana was known as the king, or the war in chief. Laws coming from a king were legal acts to be followed. According to Ghana’s politics, the king served as the “commander in chief of a highly organized army, the controller of all trade activities, and the head administrator of justice”. Individuals such as ministers, civil servants, counselors, and ministers were assigned by the ruler to help with administrative duties, but the ruler still held dominant power. Very different compared other government’s right? Although the king held absolute power in the Kingdom of Ghana, he still allowed citizens to voice their complaints that they had and then they would be addressed.

Not to mention that Gold played an important role in helping Ghana gain it’s own independence. It open doors to trade, and paved ways for Ghana to improved their advancement in gold. When the king was not reporting to his normal duties, he was spreading trade internationally. Much of Ghana wealth came from Arabs through trade. Islamic merchants would travel to Ghana just to do business with them. Could you believe it took them two months? Yes two whole months! Islamic travelers would be taxed for their imports and exports, better known as a tariff.

Sadly, Ghana Kingdom, the wealthiest, was not wealthy for that long. Competition began arising, bringing forth jealousy, fear, and anger of Ghana’s control. During the mid 11th a century, a group of Muslim individuals known as Almoravids, invaded Ghana’s capital city Koumbi Saleh. Luckily, with the territories being security protected and taxes being enforced, Ghana was able to make the Muslims withdraw from the takeover. Eventually, about 200 years later, Ghana’s kingdom was defeated and taken over by the nation of Mali. From being cut off form the international trade and weakened from numerous attacks, Ghana had no defense in the takeover. Unfortunately, the nation of Mali became the newly found empire.

P.S here’s two images of “The Golden Stool of the Ashanti Kings of Ghana”.  This symbolized their power.

 

Golden Stool 2 Golden Stool

 

3 responses to “Ghana, Gold, and It’s History!

  1. Pingback: Entry 4: Ghana – muslimscientistfrombaghdadamelia

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