The
greatest African Kingdoms included Mali, Benin, Ife, Ghana (later known as Songhai), Kanem
Bornu, Ethiopia and Great Zimbabwe.
European
and Muslim visitors were very impressed with the richest of the great African
Kingdoms.
In the
North, the warriors who guided the kings were kitted with gold swords and
shields.
Mathematicians
in Timbuktu had chartered the movements of the planets 200 years before Galileo
did.
Trade
African rulers traded in gold, ivory, salt, cloth and linen, luxury goods and slaves. These made them very rich.
In
addition each kingdom specialised in particular craft which their worksmen
perfected for example the Kingdom of Benin skilled metal workers used The
Lost-wax process to make bronzes of superb quality. The Benin bronzes are still
very sought after today.
The main trading currency was the cowrie shells. They also bartered goods, negotiating for long periods to get good deals. As there were many cultures and languages, they did not usually understand what the other was saying so they traded without speaking in 'silent trading'.
Arts
In the
Kingdom of Benin, skilled craftsmen excelled in metal working.
Craftsmen
also excelled in wood carving.
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