History of the United States I / Unit 1 USH1 0026 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Ghana and Mali
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The idea
Ghana was the first major West African empire, its Soninke farmers growing wealthy by seven fifty CE on taxing passing trade, its king controlling the gold supply and therefore the price.
In practice
Huge Saharan salt mines supplying the Mediterranean coast and the interior.
Where people slip
By twelve hundred CE Mali replaced Ghana under Sundiata Keita, after whose rule the court converted to Islam.
Your place on the trail
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