African Empires

Africa was a continent of many kingdoms and empires. The richest African rulers commanded trade in gold, ivory and slaves – goods that by 1500 were attracted European traders.

Portuguese traders sailing the coast of West Africa heard tales of wondrous kingdoms located in the heart of the continent.

The strongest was called Songhai, a Muslim kingdom that controlled trade across the Sahara Desert. In 1464, King Sonni Ali freed Songhai from control by the Mali empire, and expanded its broders. A new Songhai dynasty was founded in 1493 by Askia Muhammad I, who gained great wealth from the trading cities of Jenne and Timbuktu. Songhai rule lasted until 1591, when the army was defeated by a Moroccan force, which was much better armed with guns.

Another Muslim empire, Kanem-Bornu, extended through parts of present-day Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger and Libya. Kanem-Bornu thrived on trade between northern and southern Africa. It reached its peak in about 1570, under Idris Alawma.

In northeast Africa was the Christian empire of Ethiopia. Europeans heard tales of its legendary ruler, Prester John. Here, people lived by farming and cattle herding.

By 1450, a settlement a Great Zimbabwe in southern Africa had reached its greatest extent. Built over about 400 years, great Zimbabwe was probably a royal stronghold overlooking a valley that was home to up to 20,000 people. It was surrounded by massive walls and a high tower. The people who lived in this prosperous kingdom used copper and iron, and traded in gold with the region of Sofala on the east coast (present-day Mozambique). By 1500, however, the civilization that built Great Zimbabwe was in decline, and people had abandoned the stronghold.

PRESTER JOHN

Travelers told tales of Prester (‘priest’) John, the fabulously rich Christian king of Ethiopia. One story claimed he had a magic mirror in which he could see everything that went on in his empire. Another story tells of giant ant that dug up gold for his treasury.