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300
Beginning
Ancient Ghana was formed by Soninke people with the leader Dinga Cisse. It is not clear when this empire started: it is thought to be anywhere from 300AD to 800AD, but 800AD is the "official"date. The real name of this empire is "The Soninke Kingdom" and Ghana was the title of the king (it meant "warrior king"). -
300
The start of the Kingdom of Ghana, discovery of iron and the control of salt and gold export
Iron was discovered and put to use in warfare and trade. 300-1200 CE Ghana controlled trade routes of salt and iron exports. People from North Africa desired gold and people from West Africa needed salt. Wangara to the south of Ghana was incredibly hot. The Wangaran people lost so much natural salt through sweating that they had to eat salt in their daily diets to survive. Unfortunately they had no salt in their land. Gold is what the Wangaran people had plenty of, and they were happy to trad -
Period: 300 to Apr 1, 1235
Begining to Downfall
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Apr 1, 610
Mohammed called prophet
In 610AD Mohammed is called prophet. This is a significant date in Ancient Ghana history because it was Islam and Muslims who defeated and conquered Ancient Ghana. -
Apr 2, 1000
Ghana reaches peak of empire
The empire is flourishing with great trade and a strong military, well ruled and power throughout region. -
Apr 2, 1040
Bassi takes the throne
Bassi took the throne to be the second last ruler of Ancient Ghana until 1062AD. l Bassi led the resistance, but the city and the empire finally fell in 1076 when General Abu-Bakr Ibn-Umar felled the capital and ended the Ghana empire, converting many subjects to Islam. -
Apr 1, 1054
Ibn Yasin Captures Aoudaghast
Ib Yasin and his followers the Almoravid launched a movement capturing and taking over various cities including the Ghana city of Aoudaghast. -
Apr 2, 1062
Tunka Manin takes the throne
1062 Tunka Manin takes the thronehe was the last ruler of the Ghana and held off the Almoravaid armies. He controlled about 200,000 warriors, increased trade,especially in salt, and was very wealthy.
Bassi takes the throne -
Apr 1, 1235
Downfall
The first reason was the way in which the empire was organized. At its peak it was made up of many states and peoples and so lacked political and cultural unity which the kings of Ghana failed to achieve. The different ethnic groups such as the Soninke, Susu, Serer, Berber and Tuclor each with its own distinctive language and cultures owed allegiance to the king. Ghana was then split up and attacked in each separate region. -
Capture of Awdaghast
Ancient Ghana attacks and capture Awdaghast, a city along the Trans-Saharan Trade route. This enlarged the expanding empire.
