African Empire Research Paper

African societies flourished despite having no contact with Europe. They achieved things such as trade by sea, a sufficient judicial system, in many places high levels of education, and forms of art. Africa's abundance in certain resources such as gold and salt made it a key area for trade, allowing the empires to become rich and powerful. Despite being isolated from European countries, the African Empires and civilizations did not suffer from it. They adapted on their own, created their own forms of government, and became powerful.
To start, Africa was a huge spot for trade. Africa had an abundance of gold and salt, things that wasn't available anywhere else. Merchants and traders flocked to cities in Africa for the chance to get gold and salt. This was also an opportunity for them to develop trade routes by water, using waterways such as the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Arabian Sea. Cities such as Askum (1) and Kilwa (8) were along the coast of Africa and were efficient trading ports. Using the sea routes, Africa was able to connect to areas such as Egypt, Arabia, India, and African cities farther up the coast. Their resources also allowed them to control other civilizations. Empires such as the Ghana controlled the land, and the people within it. With their large military and control over the area, the Ghana …show more content…
Doctors, judges, and priests were highly educated and supported by the king (5). The judicial system was very intense as well, having little to no tolerance for crime. Specifically in Mali, the king and the judges hated crime and would always punish the guilty party (6). The Ghana Empire also was harsh with its military covering trade. To ensure that there was no stealing, robbery, and feuds, the Ghana placed their military forces to maintain peace (3). This harsh judicial system allowed for a safe environment to conduct trade, and simply to live