Unit
Years: 4th century BCE – 16th century CE
Culture & Community
Economy & Society
For over two thousand years, there have been major cities in West Africa, especially in the Sahel region South of the Sahara and along the Niger river. Yet, if you were to ask many people what comes to mind when they think of Africa it would likely not be an image of an urban metropolis. This is in part due to common stereotypes. The real facts around the development of African people and countries point to great cities that reflect a high level of complex societies and scholarship that was achieved by West Africans. Studying these cities reveals aspects of people’s cultures, knowledge, literacies, religions, and economic activities.
People moved to the region of the Sahel when the Sahara began to dry up about 5,000 years ago. There is evidence of early urban settlements around 800 to 400 BCE and of first cities from 500 BCE to 400 BCE. The cities of Jenne-Jeno, Gao, and Timbuktu are situated on or near the Niger River. These cities were important places in the empires of Ghana (500-1235), Mali (1235-1469), and Songhai (1469-1591). They were also significant in the ways that they were connected with other world regions such as Europe, Arabia, and Asia from a very early period. Archeologists have found artifacts such as glass beads that came all the way from Asia and Rome.
These cities were reflective of the high level of society that was attained in West Africa. In cities such as Jenne-Jeno, one of the oldest cities in the region, people smelted iron to produce high quality goods. In Timbuktu, a city at the Niger river bend, people wrote thousands of manuscripts that filled libraries. These manuscripts covered art, medicine, philosophy, science and religion and ensured that the history and scholarship of the past is accessible until today. Gao, an important historic city and capital of the kingdom of Songhai, is also still a bustling city on the Niger river today.
These historic cities were just the beginning. In the present day, the continent of Africa is now home to fifty four different countries, each of which is made up of rural, suburban and urban areas. Currently, 95 million inhabitants of Africa live in large urban areas and over 600 million more live in smaller urban centers.
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A large and densely populated urban area characterized by significant economic, cultural, and political activity, as well as infrastructure and institutions such as government, commerce, and education.
A city in Mali, located on the eastern bank of the Niger River, historically significant as a center of trade, commerce, and Islamic scholarship in West Africa, particularly during the medieval period.
A country in West Africa, bordered by Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo, and the Gulf of Guinea, known for its rich history, cultural heritage, and as the site of ancient African civilizations, including the Ghana Empire, from which the country derives its name.
A precious metal valued for its rarity, beauty, and economic significance, often used in jewelry, coinage, and as a store of value. Gold has been sought after and mined by civilizations throughout history for its monetary, aesthetic, and symbolic properties.
A monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, as revealed in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, and practiced by Muslims worldwide. Islam emphasizes submission to the will of God (Allah), the five pillars of faith and practice, and principles of social justice, morality, and compassion.
An archaeological site in Mali, located near the city of Djenné, and considered one of the earliest urban settlements in sub-Saharan Africa, dating back to the first millennium BCE.
A political entity or state ruled by a monarch or king, often characterized by a centralized government, hereditary leadership, and territorial sovereignty, and historically prevalent in various regions and cultures throughout the world.
A medieval trading city and capital of the Ghana Empire in West Africa, located in present-day Mauritania, known for its wealth, prosperity, and strategic importance as a center of trans-Saharan trade and Islamic scholarship.
The ability to read, write, and understand written language, and to comprehend, analyze, and communicate information effectively through written texts, often considered a fundamental skill necessary for education, communication, and participation in society.
Mali is a landlocked country located in West Africa, known for its rich history, cultural heritage, and ancient empires. It gained independence from France in 1960
Handwritten documents, texts, or books, typically produced before the invention of printing or in limited quantities, and often valued for their historical, cultural, or artistic significance, including religious scriptures, literary works, historical records, and scientific treatises.
A historical city and capital of the Mali Empire in West Africa, located along the Niger River, and known for its significance as a political, cultural, and commercial center of the empire, as well as its role in trans-Saharan trade and Islamic scholarship during the medieval period.
The Sahel is a semi-arid region in Africa, situated between the Sahara Desert to the north and the savannas to the south. It spans several countries, including Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, and Eritrea.
A savannah is a grassland ecosystem characterized by scattered trees and shrubs, along with grasses and herbs. Savannas are found in tropical and subtropical regions, typically bordering deserts or forests.
The Sahara is a vast desert in North Africa, spanning several countries including Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, and Tunisia. It is the largest hot desert in the world.
The Songhai Empire was a powerful pre-colonial African empire that existed in West Africa from the 15th to the 16th century, covering parts of present-day Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso.
A stereotype is a widely held but oversimplified and generalized belief or idea about a particular group of people, often based on assumptions, prejudices, or limited information, and lacking nuance or accuracy.
Timbuktu is an ancient city in Mali, West Africa, situated on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. It was a major center of trade, scholarship, and Islamic learning during the medieval period, renowned for its libraries, mosques, and role as a hub of trans-Saharan trade.
Trade refers to the buying, selling, or exchange of goods, services, or commodities between individuals, businesses, or nations. Trade can occur through various means, including bartering, monetary transactions, and online platforms, and it plays a crucial role in economic development and globalization.
An urban settlement is a concentrated area of human habitation characterized by high population density, diverse economic activities, and extensive infrastructure such as buildings, roads, and utilities. Urban settlements include cities, towns, and metropolitan areas.
Urbanism refers to the study or characteristic features of urban areas, including their development, organization, culture, and social dynamics. It encompasses the various aspects of city life and the interactions between people, institutions, and the built environment in urban settings.
Wealth refers to the abundance of valuable resources or assets owned by an individual, community, or nation. It includes tangible assets such as money, property, and possessions, as well as intangible assets such as knowledge, skills, social connections, and cultural capital.