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500 BCE - Evidence of iron smelting in Nigeria and central Niger. -
Ghana was the first of the three early African empires, 300 CE -
800 CE- The religion of Islam begins to spread through Africa -
Ghana forced Awdaghast to accept its rule -
Iron technology spreads out tho the rest of Africa. -
1148-1163 - Gold coin with thin, circular with double square and Arabic script, pearled border. -
Mali came next 1200 CE -
- Many different reasons for Ghana's decline. Ghana was totally eclipsed by the Mali Empire of Sundiata.
- Drought also caused the decline
- The King lost his trading monopoly.
- Invasion from outside forces
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Wood headrest ornamented with horse heads projecting from both sides of the rectangular base, which is itself decorated with triangular chip-carved motifs around the top and sides. A rectangular cavity is carved in the center of the seat. A small animal head, probably a horse, projects from the lower portion of the base. -
Malinke emerged under a new dynamic ruler, Sundiata Keita -
13th century to 15th century
Equestrian figure with a quiver slung across the back diagonally from the right shoulder down. -
Abubakar II's successor, Mansa Musa (1312-1337) was immortalised in the descriptions of Arab writers, -
Mansa Musa he made his magnificent pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324. -
12th to 18th century-
Copper ring forged from a cast ingot into a hexagonal bar. The ends are heavily "upset" or compressed into a button head and then bent into a C shape. There is a dark patina with highlights from wear, and this is the larger of two like objects in this donation. -
In the early 1400's, Tuareg launched a number of successful raids on Timbuktu. They did not disrupt scholastic life or commercial activity, but fatally undermined the government by appropriating taxes for themselves. -
Songhai, the last of these three great empires, starts in1464. It started under the control of the Mali Empire -
After Sonni Ali's death one of his generals, Mohammed Ture, seized power in 1493. He was a devout Muslim of Soninke origin, who established the Askiya dynasty. Continuing the expansion of Songhay that Sonni Ali had started, he brought Songhay to the height of its power. -
13th-17th century
Small copper ingot currency or croisettes of the HX type. This group of 5 ingots shows stable oxidation with some minor pitting. Mold form ridges are visible on the underside. -
Meanwhile Gao had become the capital of the burgeoning Songhay Empire which, by 1500, had totally eclipsed Mali. But the idea of Mali regaining its former splendour and glory, remained strong in the minds of many Mandinka for generations to come. -
- Decline: weak and inneficient rulers caused Mali to be a weaker force. Their power was reduced making them vulnerable
- civil wars
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In 1510 and 1513, The Spanish Moroccan writer and traveller Leo Africanus visited Gao, the capital of Songhay. He was amazed at the wealth of the ruling class. -
In the late 16th century Songhay slid into civil war. The wealth and power of Songhay was also undermined by environmental change, causing droughts and diseases. But Songhay might have survived all this. The decisive factor in its downfall was the determination of the Moroccans to control the sub-Saharan gold trade. -
Songhay declines in the year 1591 -
In 1591 the Moroccan army invaded. The Songhay were caught unawares and were defeated by the superior fire power of the Moroccan army. Morocco won the war but lost the peace. The Sultans of Morocco eventually lost interest.