Discuss the key drivers behind state formation in the West African Savannah. The early Iron Age states of West Africa can be argued to have emerged through four key factors.
Discuss the key drivers behind state formation in the West African Savannah? The early Iron Age states of West Africa can be argued to have emerged through four key factors. These include: the Camel and Trade, the location of Ghana and the expansion of the Gold Trade, Nomads and Farming and Technology. The latter I will argue is perhaps the most significant. This is because while trade, in particular the expansion of the Gold Trade, did encourage power and wealth among the Soninke peoples of the Ancient Kingdom of Ghana, it was access to new farming techniques and new iron technology that was the key driver behind state formation as it made particular societies more organised than others thus enabling these groups to form larger more settled communities. Long distance trade across the Sahara had taken place for many centuries through use of pack oxen. For example, small amounts of Gold dust and red stones travelled North across the desert to Roman North Africa and passed through groups of desert dwellers before reaching its destination. However, Romans did not manage to stimulate regular or direct trade across the Sahara. Therefore, trade was small scale and sporadic but with the introduction of the Camel in the 5th century, it revolutionised the scope and scale of trade as the Camel could travel longer distances at a steadier pace. As a result, Berber Nomads could reach
The Black Death.
History of Europe 1000-1500 Final Paper 2/10/2003 The Black Death The Black Death was a pivotal event in human history. The plague originated in Asia, and came to Europe via trade ships in the middle of the 14th century. As it spread through Europe, it left no one unaffected by its horrors. Everyone who survived knew someone, usually many people, who had not been so lucky. The Black Death changed the whole face of Europe. The massive population loss caused by the Black Death acted as a catalyst for vast economic, political, and social change. The plague bacteria is thought to have spread from the arid plains of central Asia. Increased commercialization in Europe opened up silk routes through the steppes, and the trading posts acted as good locations for infected fleas to break out of the area. The disease probably spread from Europe to India, and then on to Italian seaports and the rest of Europe. The Black Death first appeared in Europe in Italy in 1347. It arrived on trading ships that probably came from the Black Sea, past Constantinople and through the Mediterranean. People soon learned of the horror of the disease, and fled the city, thus spreading the disease to other destinations in Europe. It reached Europe's ports first, including Messina, Genoa, Venice, Barcelona, Marseilles, and Valencia. By June of 1348, almost half of Europe was afflicted
