Medieval West Africa

Beginning in prehistoric times, West Africa has always been an incredible region. Early nomadic tribes settled into some of the earliest communities on Earth and learned how to work with metal. Various West African tribes then became adept at working with metal and were some of the most skilled artisans in the world. As civilizations developed in West Africa, nomadic tribes turned into urban societies that built kingdoms. Eventually, some of the greatest leaders in the world created mighty West African empires.

Pick up almost any book on early and medieval world history and empire, and where do you find West Africa? On the periphery. This pioneering book tells a different story. Interweaving political and social history and drawing on a rich array of sources, Michael Gomez unveils a new vision of how categories of ethnicity, race, gender, and caste emerged in Africa and in global history. 

As the world progressed through medieval times, great empires rose and fell across Europe and Africa. However, in the 15th century, trans-oceanic voyages were allowing imperialism to reach distant shores. This new form of control became rampant, and untamed capitalism put the slave trade at its core.

Many people know about the Mali Empire and its famous ruler, Mansa Musa. But did you know there was a major empire that came before it? Medieval African history tends to get ignored in favor of medieval European history. However, there is so much rich history to uncover, especially in the region of West Africa. The Ghana Empire is considered one of the greatest empires in African history. There was an abundance of gold in the region, and the Ghana Empire was a powerful trading partner. Advancements were made in administration, allowing it to become a dominant power in the region.

What if one of history's greatest stories has never been fully told? When people think about the foundations of Western civilization, they often think of Ancient Greece, Rome, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment. Rarely do they think of Africa. Yet Africa helped shape many of the institutions, ideas, resources, and cultural traditions that influenced the Western world. In How Africa Built the West, historian Frederick Amakom takes readers on an extraordinary journey across thousands of years of history, revealing the often-overlooked connections between Africa and the rise of Western ...

Recent research has revealed that the richest person of all time lived in the 14th century in West Africa and went by many names, including Kankan Musa Keita, Emir of Melle, Lord of the Mines of Wangara, Conqueror of Ghanata, and the Lion of Mali II, but today he is usually referred to as Mansa Musa. Adjusting his wealth to modern values, he was worth about an estimated $400 billion as the Sultan of ancient Mali, which controlled the trade routes across the Sahara Desert.

He gave away so much gold that he crashed the economy of an entire region — and history spent five centuries pretending his empire never existed. In the summer of 1324, a caravan tens of thousands strong crossed the Sahara toward Mecca. At its center rode Mansa Musa, ninth emperor of Mali, master of an empire larger than Western Europe and the gold fields that supplied half the medieval world. When he reached Cairo, he spent and gave on a scale the richest city in the Mediterranean could not absorb. The price of gold there stayed depressed for a dozen years. One act of pious generosity ...

This audiobook reveals a truth that has too often been overlooked: Africa was home to sophisticated empires, powerful rulers, and legendary cities of gold and scholarship. Inside, you'll uncover the rich history and untold tales of a continent shaping its own destiny.

The richest man in history was not Rockefeller, Rothschild, or Bezos—his name was Mansa Musa, and his story has been forgotten... until now. Few people realize that in the 14th century, a king from West Africa commanded such immense wealth that his pilgrimage to Mecca disrupted economies for decades. But Mansa Musa’s true legacy was not gold—it was vision. He built universities, preserved knowledge in Timbuktu’s secret libraries, and left behind lessons on leadership, faith, and legacy that still matter today. What you’re about to discover is the hidden truth behind the Mali ...