2) The Gold Coast experienced substantial development because of the European Atlantic Trade during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Dutch, British, and Danes traded guns for slaves creating powerful empires along the gold producing coast. One principality, Akwamu, started as a small principality that later conquered a vast empire, controlling all trade routes from Accra to the Volta river due to Atlantic trade. As the Akwamu army continued to conquer distant lands, those who were captured provided a steady flow of slaves for trade with European traders creating an ongoing process that helped the Akwamu’s empire grow at a steady rate using European weaponry.
Another empire that would be forever changed because of the Atlantic trade was the Asante Kingdom. Asante began with a small base in the capital city of Kumasi, developing itself into a major competitor in the Atlantic trade, mostly from the capturing of slaves initially. The Asante used European firearms to organize itself into a very large imperial system and would eventually supersede many other large kingdoms including Akwamu. These European muskets helped Asante’s soldiers defeat Muslim Sudanese who wore an armoured cavalry, which forever changed African history. If it were not for the European slave trade, the Akwamu and Asante Kingdoms would have never developed from the anonymity of the inner forestland.
6) The spread of Islam on the continent of Africa was spread by many different experiences. One experience in particular was through the Zanzibar system, which was controlled by the Omani sultans in East Africa. The Omani sultans were active along the East African coast, controlling significant portions of the Swahili region, establishing a trade system. This active Zanzibar system resulted in more close contact between the coast and inner regions, spreading Islam to inner towns of the East African interior in modern-day Kenya and Tanzania. These networks laid the foundation for the proliferation of Islam in East Africa from the 19th through the 20th centuries creating a lasting impression on the local populations. Merchants and teachers who continually travelled along the Zanzibar networks were the main bearers of spreading Islam. The Berbers were also known for their important networks of trade and added to the prosperity of their host societies. The Berbers were the fist followers of Islam in Sub-Sahara Africa living in small communities in Ghana, Mali, Songhay, and Kanem. The Lamtunas were the first Berber community to actually follow military “jihad,” by conquering and weakening many other tribes. The Lamtunas followed the idea of reform, to reform those who did not correctly follow the “truth.” They became the archetype for militant Islamic dominance for succeeding leaders in Islamic Sahara and Islamic West Africa leaving a legacy for many decades to follow.
7) Mamluk Egypt was a period in Egyptian history where the Mamluks controlled Egypt from the mid 13th century until the early 16th century. The Mamluks came to power in the Ayyubid military as highly trained enslaved soldiers. The Mamluks of Egypt were also known to be the first regime to defeat the powerful Mongols who originated in the steppes of Central Asia. This defeat helped the Mamluk’s reputation because the Mongols were highly successful in their campaigns defeating such empires as the Abbasids.
The Mali Empire was an empire located in West Africa that lasted from the 13th to the 17th century. The empire became known for its wealth and powerful leaders such as Mansa Musa I. The Mali Empire flourished because of its huge amounts of gold and salt
