Trade in West Africa and the Gold Coast (1000-1500 AD)
The geographic location of Ghana in West Africa was an ideal location between 1000 and 1500 AD for a territory that possessed a valuable commodity like gold. Gold was a means of exchange and used to measure value. Kings demanded it as tribute from subjects and those who possessed it had higher social status.
Ghana’s proximity to the desert provided a barrier from invading Arabic (mostly Alamoravids) armies whose trek towards the Gold Coast was impeded by the harsh desert conditions. The desert ports were important for trade with empires such as Mali. The geography was also a curse to Ghana because of the barriers created by the desert. There were a limited number of buyers and sellers at the ports which provided markets for barter and trade with other empires in North Africa. The markets represented the classical law of unequal exchange where Ghanaians swapped gold for salt. Salt was scarce in the Sahara region and controlled by traders who monopolized the market.
There were three major gold regions in West Africa which were controlled by different kingdoms throughout the period. The first was Akan in Ghana, the second was Bambuhu near Senegal and Faleme and lastly, Bure closer to southeast in the Niger region. Every King tried to protect their homeland from invaders and to protect the valuable gold reserves from raiders. The Sudanese frequently tried to get to the Gold coast and more importantly to the gold but were continually impeded by the desert which sheltered the Ghanaian economy.
Many empires sought to control the desert and access to the markets. The threat of hunger was also imminent with rain being scattered due to its vicinity of the desert. Food security was important for the survival of Akan gold reserves. Historians have not reached a consensus on whether the Alamoravids were responsible for the decline of the empire in Ghana. Some argue that during the 11th century, the Alamoravids came into Ghana and captured the trade routes that had been controlled by the Akan. They believe the Almoravids conquered the Ghana Empire sometime around 1076 CE. However, others like Conrad & Fisher (1982) do not believe the decline of the empire in Ghana was in any way connected to the Alamoravids.
