Geography plays a colossal role not only in countries and continents today, but it was also a tremendous factor in the kingdoms of past history, specifically West Africa. Ghana, Mali, and Songhai are the three kingdoms that made up West Africa in the time period A.D. 500 to A.D. 1500. Songhai was the last of the three kingdoms to arise. However, it’s geography affected the society, culture, and trade of just effectively as the kingdoms of Ghana and Mali. The kingdom of Songhai was located south of the Niger River. This region offered geographical advantages such as fertile soil necessary for cultivating crops and raising cattle. Furthermore, Songhai started off with great prosperity due to the benefits provided by the Muslim trade routes …show more content…
This ruler created a new dynasty known as the Sunni, and fought to obtain his territory as well as conquer new ones. Timbuktu and Djenné were Sunni Ali’s most successful and prosperous conquests, for they opened up Songhai to a new world of trade. After overtaking these areas, Songhai found a great abundance of salt and gold, two extremely valuable items at the time. As for currency, people proceeded to use shells and cowries to pay for the items they traded. Society, at this point in time, seemed to be quite ideal for the people of Songhai. Business in trade and farming was blossoming. But most importantly, rural and city dwellers became linked under the control of one single government which was a huge administrative and social step for the kingdom of Songhai. However, the most influential time period what when Muhammad Ture took the throne in 1493. This political figure created and new dynasty known as the Asaki. The Asaki culture consisted of doing whatever necessary to maintain a continuous growth of the Songhai kingdom. Although, one change was brought to the attention of Muhammad Ture. This was the division of provinces, and each province held its own personal governor. The preservation of security and peace was left to the navy and soldiers in horseback. Also, the trading of salt and gold was a crucial aspect that led to prospering even more than
During the Song dynasty, they only focused on the economic system instead of the military and the economic system. Even though this caused the economic system to advance the dynasty soon fell. Considering that they didn't have a strong military the Song dynasties rule was really successful. At the same time, the song had their differences from the Han. One was that they used the civil service system.
The Song Dynasty was split into two halves the Northern Song and the Southern Song. The Northern Song was founded by a general named Zhao Kuangyin. The Northern Song lasted from 960 to 1129 There is a myth that says that his troops no longer wanted to serve the current emperor and begged Zhao to wear the yellow robe. After refusing three times eventually he took the robe and became Emperor Taizu, establishing the Song dynasty. After the Northern Song was conquered by the Jin. The son of the last emperor fled. The Southern Song was founded by the son of last emperor. The Southern Song lasted from 1127 to 1279. During through both Northern and Southern Song China flourished.
The kingdoms of West Africa, Mali, Ghana, and Songhai existed from 830 - 1591 and were located by the Niger river and south of the Sahara desert. They were built upon each other's foundations. Although Africa was not as developed as the rest of the world, these three kingdoms became very prosperous because of their geographic location and leaders. The Kingdom of West Africa’s geographic locations were a main factor in they’re prosperity.
In the empire Ghana, they worked with iron, and traded it for gold and salt. Because of trading iron for salt and gold, the empire prospered. The empire of Mali prospered from trade and that was one of their key accomplishments. In Songhai, a key accomplishment was that it was the largest empire of West Africa. You can infer that because Songhai was the largest empire, trade was very important to Songhai.
The histories of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai are not well documented. Much of what we know is a mixture of legend, stories and secondhand accounts. North Africa has small coastal areas, some savanna areas, but it is mostly made up of the sahara desert. It is a very dry and hot region. West Africa has some desert areas, wet and dry grasslands, small rainforest, and long rivers, like the Niger River. It has some vegetation areas, but it also has some dry and hot areas. According to legend, Ghana started when a foreigner named Dhinga had to kill a goblin, and marry the goblins pretty daughters. Their offspring became ancestors of the ruling Soninke clans. After he died, his son Dyabe defeated his brother and founded the empire of Ghana somewhere
During the years of 3500 BC to 2500 BC, the geography of a land often impacted a civilizations development in great measures. Depending on the resources available or the detriments present due to certain topographical characteristics like rivers or deserts, a civilization could flourish or collapse. By studying the geographic features of growing societies like the Nile, Euphrates, and Tigris Rivers as well as the Mediterranean Sea of Egypt and Mesopotamia, the link between developing cultures and geography will be examined through sources, including Egypt: Ancient Culture, Modern Land edited by Jaromir Malek and Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization by Paul Kriwaczek. To determine the extent
The cultural diversity and advancements portray the progression developed in African history. The growth of these two subcontinents prove that American and European historians were incorrect on how advanced and civilized Africa was.
The role of Meroe’s environment made the people of the kingdom such as merchants, farmers etc less dependent on irrigation systems. The overall population did not need to live by the Nile unlike Egypt who was in need of the irrigation system.
As you can see the Aksum empire was the best and biggest trading empire because of where they were and the geography around them. Ancient Egypt was a smart empire and learn the way the geography around them worked and what it did, so they can plan around it and be successful. Lastly, Ancient Greece was affected and they weren’t able to move and be able to life with a very successful empire where they were. This shows that geography was a huge part of the way the people in the empires lived and if they were successful or
Northern and Eastern migrations both came from the area around the Nile. The people of the Bantu migrated from the areas around the Niger and Benue rivers
From living on horseback as steppe nomads centuries before 1200, to controlling the largest unified empire in history by 1260 , the Mongols advanced tremendously throughout their journey to power. In around 1200, Genghis Khan united the Mongols creating the groundwork for their kingdom that followed. Due to the harshness and expert organization of the Great Khans, the Mongol army conquered many other civilizations and the land they owned skyrocketed. Although they were known for their brutality in war, the Mongol Empire thrived in tolerance and peace. The diverse kingdom’s economy was enriched due to trade and the conquering spirit apparent throughout the empire. The Mongols’ governing strategies created a successful empire because their religious tolerance allowed for peace in the empire, foreigners and Khans effectively administered the kingdom, and the strategic leaders conquered an unbelievable amount of land.
The ruler of this dynasty was Ur-Nammu. He was the first ruler to establish law codes and spell out regulations and penalties.
Song Dynasty: during the Song Dynasty, there were several reformations and the Keju System became more and more mature and consummate. It had reached its summit. The government expanded admission quota and established Provincial Examination, Metropolitan Examination, and Final Imperial Examination. Those exams would be hold triennially. Song Dynasty changed the situation that merchant were discriminated in Sui and Tang Dynasties. Thanks to this policy, many people who were born miserably could have a fair access to higher level of bureaucracy.
Before the 14th C the Songhai Empire was in danger and was in major need of rescue. They had lost everything and were about to lose their empire. One of the greatest Emperors who helped them get back up on their feet was the man Sunni Ali. He had many achievements that increased the empire's influence. The king Sunni Ali had a positive impact on the Songhai empire, because of him freeing them from the Mali Empire, making a powerful military system, and expanding the land.
The Empire of Songhai established the Kingdom of Dendi in 1591 AD. The Kingdom of Dendi was established in the area of modern-day Niger near to the Niger River. The capital of the Kingdom of Dendi was Lulami and the Songhai people again resumed their gold trading activities. The Songhai people now controlling a much smaller territory continued with electing their line of kings named Askia as they had done in the