Lecture Note - Africa: Kush, Axum, and Ghana: Review

Introduction

Africa, a continent with a rich tapestry of cultures, peoples, and civilizations, is often misunderstood or underestimated in its impact on global history. The diversity of its societies and the complexity of their achievements are often underestimated or overlooked in the dominant historical narrative.

In this context, this study focuses on three ancient African empires: Kush, Axum, and Ghana. These represent solid examples of advanced civilizations on the African continent, rich in terms of culture, politics, and economy.

Understanding these civilizations is crucial, not only to challenge the common perception of an "backward" or "primitive" Africa, but also to understand the significant contribution that Africa made to the world at different periods of history.

Theoretical Development

• Kush

  • Located in what is today Sudan, the civilization of Kush flourished along the Nile River. Known for its wealth of gold, ivory, and ebony, Kush was an important contact point between the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa.
  • The Kingdom of Kush was particularly influential during the New Kingdom of Egypt (15th - 11th centuries BC), when it acted as a center of power capable of rivaling Egyptian dominance. This remarkable period in Kush's history is known as the Dynasty of the Black Pharaohs.
  • The religion and mythology of Kush were heavily influenced by that of Egypt, with many shared gods and rituals. Its pharaoh was considered a god king.

• Axum

  • Axum (present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea) emerged as a maritime and commercial power known from the beginning of the first millennium AD.
  • Its power and influence were rooted in its control of the Red Sea trade routes, which connected the Mediterranean to India and Asia. Axum thrived mainly on the trade of ivory, perfumes, and spices.
  • Axum was one of the first nations to adopt Christianity as its official religion, doing so in the 4th century.
  • The Empire of Axum eventually declined in the 7th century, partially due to shifts in global trade power dynamics, with the rise of Islam diverting trade routes that passed through Axum.
  • Still, in the 13th century, the Franciscan missionary John of Montecorvino described the city of Axum as one of the "four Christian capitals of the world."

• Ghana

  • Ghana was a large empire located in the western region of Africa, covering parts of what are today Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal.
  • Ghana prospered thanks to the control and taxation of the trans-Saharan trade of gold and salt. Gold was abundant in the south, while salt, a highly valued commodity, was scarce; Ghana became a natural bridge between these two regions.
  • Besides trade, Ghana was also a highly organized society, with a powerful army, a well-established bureaucracy, and kings who were considered sacred.
  • In the 11th century, advances of Islam in North Africa and the Sahara began to undermine Ghana's influence, as new trade routes were established around the coast of Africa. Despite these changes, the empire of Ghana continued to exist in a reduced state until the 13th century, when it was finally absorbed by the Mali Empire.

Detailed Summary

• Relevant Points

  • The geographical location of Kush, Axum, and Ghana played a crucial role in their rises and falls.
  • Kush, situated along the Nile, was a vital trade center for sub-Saharan Africa and the Mediterranean.
  • Axum, guardian of the Red Sea trade routes, controlled vast amounts of transoceanic trade.
  • Ghana benefited from controlling the trans-Saharan trade route between the gold and salt regions, becoming an economic powerhouse.

• Conclusions

  • The legacy of Kush, Axum, and Ghana reflects the complexity and richness of African history.
  • These empires challenged the traditional narrative of a "backward" Africa, demonstrating significant advances in terms of economy, politics, and culture.
  • The decline of these empires is not a result of any inherent inferiority, but rather changes in trade routes and geopolitical dynamics.

• Exercises

  1. Compare and contrast the geographical location and source of wealth of Kush, Axum, and Ghana. How did these factors influence the success and decline of each empire?
  2. Discuss the influence of trade in the formation and maintenance of power in each empire.
  3. Analyze the influence of changes in transoceanic and trans-Saharan trade routes on the decline of Axum and Ghana.

Glossary

• New Kingdom of Egypt: Period of Egyptian history between the 16th and 11th centuries BC, marked by intense cultural, political, and military flourishing.

• Trans-Saharan Trade: Name given to the trade that crossed the Sahara Desert, connecting North Africa with the south, from where gold and silver came, and regions with access to the Mediterranean.

• Dynasty of the Black Pharaohs: Modern designation, created by Egyptologist Karl Richard Lepsius, for the Nubian pharaohs of the 25th dynasty of the New Kingdom of Egypt, who ruled between the 8th and 7th centuries BC. They are called "Black" due to their Nubian origin.

• Red Sea: Large gulf of the Indian Ocean, located between the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa.

• Christianity: Monotheistic religion that emerged in the 1st century AD in Jerusalem, after the death of Jesus of Nazareth. Currently, it is the largest religion in the world.

• Mali Empire: State in West Africa that extended through present-day Mali, Senegal, Gambia, Niger, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, flourishing from the 13th to the 15th century.

• Transoceanic Trade: Trade that crosses an ocean, usually between different continents. In the context of Axum, this trade occurred between the Mediterranean and India/Asia.

References

• Ricketts, C. (2019). Revisiting the Great African Kingdoms: Kush, Axum, and Ghana. Black Perspectives. Retrieved from https://www.aaihs.org/revisiting-the-great-african-kingdoms-kush-axum-and-ghana/

• Khan Academy. (2021). Kush Civilization. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/world-history-beginnings/ancient-africa/v/kush-empire

• Hirsch, J. (2012). Axum. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Axum/

• BBC History. (n.d.). 'Ghana, Mali and Songhai'. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z2nnb9q/revision/1

• Diamond, J. (1999). Guns, Germs, and Steel. New York: WW Norton & Company.