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Around 600A.D., the capital of the empire of Ghana, Koumbi, was established.
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Around 700 A.D. the Sahara desert got the best of the Ghanian farmers so they stopped farming cattles, sheep and dates and started trading ivory, slaves and gold with their Arab neighbors.
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After muslim invaders took the capital of Ghana and so began the decline of the Ghanian kingdom
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After the Ghanian empire fell, the new and powerful Malian empire, with its magiacian and warrior ruler, Sundiata, taking power.
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In 1240 A.D. Sundiata and his army took over Ghana`s capital and thus the gold and salt trade was turned over to Mali.
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This grandnephew of Sundiata became the ruler and was very religious.
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In the year 1324 A.D. Mansa Musa brought great amount of gold and slaves to the city of Mecca, the Muslim holy city, which brought him much popularity.
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A Muslim leader named Sunni Ali defeated the forces of Mali and took power creating the Songhai empire.
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One of the most intelligent of the Songhai`s rulers, Askia Muhammad took throne and encouraged learning,trade and increased prosperity.
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After he took a pilgrimage, he brougth doctors, architects, scientists and scholars.
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Invading forces of Morocco and Spain destroyed the Songhai empire ending the last empires of the great West African empires.
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About fifty years before the year 1000, the king of Ghana became Muslim. As a result the army became stronger and goods passing through the kingdom were taxed.
