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The seven states of Hausaland divided up production and labor activities in accordance with their location and natural resources. Kano and Rano were known as the "Chiefs of Indigo". Cotton grew readily in the great palins of these states, and they became the primary producers of cloth, weaving and dying it before sending it off in caravans to the other states within Hausaland and to exstensive regions beyond. Biram was the original seat of the goverment, while Zaria supplied labor.
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At its peak, the Mali empire extended across West Africa to the Atlantic ocean and incorporated an estimated 40 to 50 million people. The administraton of such an enormous territory was formidable and relied on the establishment of a goverment sensitive to the diversity of the land and population and cultures and accepting of the indigenous rulers and their customs. The Kingdom of Mali was not located in present day Mali.
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One of the greatest civilizations in Africa at the time and was the goverment of the entire Shona empire. It is said that their culture couldn't have been from Africa origin, due to their social and economic ways.
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Located in Western Africa, it was one of the largest empires in Isamic empire history. They made thier capital Gao and began an imperial expansion of their own throughout the wetsern Sahel, by 1420, they were strong enough to extract tribute from Masina. Trade existed throughout the empir, the merchnts would form partnerships, and the state would prottect these merchants and the port cities on the NIger river. Following the death of Emperor Askia Daoud, a civil war weakened the empire
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This empire was loctaed in present day western and northern Nigeria. The Yoruba established this empire and it was very successful due to their orginization, wealth and having a pwoerful cavalry. During the 17th and 18th century this was the most politically important empire in its region
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The Kingdom of Mutapa was located in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, specificaly between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It was started when Prince Mutota of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe sought to find sources of sal and it in this region where they conquered the area and it turned into the Kingdom of Mutapa. They had skilled workers who made quality artifacts and good, distinct trade routes
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It was located in what's mow present day Nigeria, not the present day country Benin. The Edo people founded this empire after previously being ruled by another called Ogisos. Benin was ruled by the monarch Oba of Benin during the entirety of its existence and the empire ended when emporer Ovonremwen was exiled.
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The actual name of the empire was Wagadugu, Ghana was the title of the of the kings who ruled the kingdom. The wealth of ancient Ghana is mythically in the tale of Bida, a black snake who demanded an annual sacrifice in return for guaranteeing prosperity in the Kingdom. The old Ghana is actually located 500 miles north of present day Ghana. The decline of Ghana was caused by the king losing his trading monopoly and the beging of a drought.
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Kilwa was in modern day Tanzania, but at its height the kingdom expanded over the length of the Swahili coast. The empire is said to have started when son of ruler Shiraz, Ali ibn al-Hassan Shirazi purchased the island from the local inhabitants while sent from his town and sailing elsewhere. It was an ideal trading center due to its island location, which drew people of all ethnicities and countries there to create a very diverse population.
