Lesson 2: The Empire of Ghana (Early African Civilizations)
Reading
A Rich Land
A long time ago, there was a powerful kingdom in West Africa called the Empire of Ghana. It was not the same as the country of Ghana today — it was older and much larger. People from far away called it the "Land of Gold" because it was so rich in gold.
Imagine the sun rising over the golden sand of the Sahara Desert. The air is hot and dry. In the distance, you see something moving slowly. It’s a long line of camels walking through the sand. Their feet sink softly into the desert as they carry heavy bags full of goods — gold, salt, and cloth. The traders walking beside them cover their faces with cloth to keep the dusty wind away.
After many days of travel, the traders arrive at a big city in Ghana. The city is full of life. The market is busy — people shout prices, others carry goods, and coins clink as people buy and sell. You hear the soft grunts of camels resting after their long journey.
Items of Trade
The traders bring three important goods to sell:
Gold — Ghana is famous for its gold. The king controls all the gold in the kingdom. People are only allowed to have gold dust — only the king can own gold nuggets. This makes the king very powerful. People from the north come to trade for this rare and beautiful gold.
Salt — Salt is just as valuable as gold! In the hot desert, people need salt to keep their food fresh and to stay healthy. Some traders carry huge blocks of salt — so heavy that one camel can only carry a few pieces.
Cloth — Soft, colorful cloth comes from faraway lands. Rich people in Ghana love to wear these bright fabrics. The more colors you wear, the more important you look.
Taxes
But Ghana’s great wealth did not only come from gold — it came from taxes.
Whenever a trader enters Ghana, they must pay a tax. When they leave Ghana, they pay another tax. Even the local people must pay taxes when they sell their goods. There are also taxes for the people who bring salt from the north and taxes for the people who buy gold from the south.
The king uses this money to make his army strong and build great buildings. People say the king sits on a golden throne and wears golden jewelry from head to toe. He even has a dog with a gold collar!
But Ghana’s land started to change.
The Growing Desert
Farmers let their animals — goats, sheep, and cows — eat too much grass. People cut down trees to make fires for cooking. Without grass and trees, the wind blew the soil away. Slowly, the land became dry and turned into desert.
One old man, sitting by his small home, watches the sand move closer each year. “The grass is gone,” he says to his grandson. “Without grass, the traders will stop coming. Without the traders, Ghana will grow weak.”
And little by little, the great Empire of Ghana, once full of gold and power, began to fade — not because of war, but because the desert grew larger and larger.
Comprehension and Conversation Questions
Comprehension: What animal helped to create effective trade throughout the desert
Conversation: Does your family have an animal that helps to produce income for the family? What animals does your family have? Why does your family have that animal, or what does your family do with it?
2. Comprehension: What three products were traded? Say something about each product.
Conversation: What products do you like to buy? Are there any unique products in Kazakhstan that you enjoy?
3. Comprehension: One way the government of the Ghanian Empire became wealthy was through taxes. What people were taxed (Please list all 3 different peoples)?
Conversation: Are there a lot of taxes in your home country? What do you think of the taxes in your home country? Are they spent on good projects and causes?
4. Comprehension: Ghana’s land became worthless when the grass and vegetation became desert. What caused this?
Conversation: Can you think of a time when you were part of a good team? What did you accomplish? Can you think of a time when you were part of a bad team. Why was it a bad team?