Ancient Ghana: Map and Early History

The ancient kingdom of Ghana was located in northwestern Africa, about 400 miles north of modern-day Ghana. The earliest settlers were the Sonike in Senegal. Though it only enters historical conciousness close to the end of the eighth century, it was most likely thriving for years or even centuries before.  

Taxation and Army

Taxation
The kingdom of Ghana's form of taxation was very advanced for their time. The king taxed people who entered and left Ghana. These and other taxes were paid in salt, iron, fine silk, spices, and other luxury goods. Ghana warriors kept trade routes opened and protected, so that if the traders paid the tax, they were able to pass peacefully. This and other taxes contibuted to the wealth of Ghana greatly.
Army
Ghana's army was much better equipped than their neighboring enemies. Though their vast army was mainly made stronger by their alliances with foreign areas, they were strong and very powerful. Their weapons were tipped with iron, an advancement that made them much more threatening and powerful.

Trade and Gold

Trade
For the kingdom of Ghana, trade wouldn't have been possible if not for camels. Berber-speaking people traveled across the Sahara with the help of camels and settled a kingdom which came to be known as Ghana. This event occurred in and/or around the fifth century, and caused many other people (mostly traders and merchants) to undertake trans-Saharan travel. These people traded with the Soninkes (the peoples who came to control Ghana). Many different commercial trade centers began to pop up all over Ghana. Of course, these traders did not cross a whole desert to trade for just anything. They came for the gold.

Gold beads or pendants from ancient Ghana.

Gold
Ghana, called the'Land of Gold' at the time, had some of the most abundant gold mines on Earth. This kingdom's power came from their gold; they traded some, but kept much of it for themselves (their royalty often embellished themselves with gold jewelry and adornments). Gold was already high in demand all over the world, especially in the Mediterranean, for coinage. The kingdom of Ghana encouraged the consumption of salts from traders that came from around the Mediterranean in order to  keep good business and trade relations with them.

Islam and Ghana

Islam
Islam was spread to Ghana through trade. The extensive commerce between the Arab merchants that came to Ghana for gold and the people of Ghana spurred much of the conversion to Islam. The king did not fully embrace the religion, so his town was sort of separated from the rest of the city of Ghana, but he did keep on good terms with the Muslim traders. Many mosques were built in Kumbi Saleh (the city of Ghana) and the religion was widely embraced. Again, the widespread conversion was mostly because of the interactions between the Soninkes and the Arabs.


Arab Influence
Other than religious ideas, Islam brought many different things to Ghana. Muslims brought some of their architecture (domed buildings) as well as formal educational systems. These, especially formal educational systems, blossomed in Ghana. Islam also brought with it social fragmentation (separated groups in society) and, most importantly, widespread, unified literacy. The religion brought Arabic language and writing, which almost all of the Soninkes learned as they adopted the religion.
 

Collapse of Ancient Ghana

The Collapse
The collapse of the kingdom of Ghana was due to the loss of its trading monopoly, a deadly drought that presented lasting effects, and threatening outside forces. Because of the drought, gold mining fell into decline and the land could no longer support agriculture and cattle. Meanwhile, gold was found outside of Ghana, and new trade routes developed around it. Many outside forces targeted Ghana as well. The Almoravids initiated a war against Ghana for control of it's trade routes. After a long war, they captured the city of Ghana in 1076, and the kingdom of Ghana came to an end.