Nearly 30% of the world’s gold comes from Africa, though a lot of it was mined and traded by ancient African kingdoms. Both the kingdom of Benin and the Swahili Coast rose to power due to inter-continental trading, they both declined and then eventually collapsed with decreased trading and conquering by Europeans.
The kingdom of Benin started in the 900s CE when the Edo people settled in the West African rainforests. By 1400, the kingdom had gained a lot of wealth and power through trade with the Portuguese of slaves, palm oil, pepper, and ivory in exchange for manila and guns. The kingdom was rich and had beautiful brass art and architecture. The kings, Obas, lived in elaborate palaces. The kingdom had lots of protection, including a police …show more content…
The kingdom was officially founded in 1100 BCE. They traded gold, ivory, tortoise shells, and slaves with the Persians and Arabs from the Middle East, which resulted in a blended culture; part Bantu and part Arab. The people of the Swahili Coast were Muslims, but also had strong beliefs in spirits and medicine men. A lot of people were middlemen, who would journey back and forth between the Swahili Coast and the Middle East for trade. Kiswahili was the language of the Swahili Coast, and unlike the rest of Africa, most of their history is written. The Swahili Coast started to decline when the gold ran out of the inland mines, and eventually collapsed in 1500 CE, when the Portuguese attacked and controlled Kilwa, Mombasa, and other trading …show more content…
Though both relied heavily on trade, Benin relied heavily on the slave trade, while the Swahili Coast relied on their gold mines. Both cultures are unique; however, the culture of Benin developed solely out of the Edo people, while the Swahili Coast was a blend of Arab, Persian, and Bantu culture. These two kingdoms of Africa share a number of similarities, but also many
The kingdom of Benin started in the 900s CE when the Edo people settled in the West African rainforests. By 1400, the kingdom had gained a lot of wealth and power through trade with the Portuguese of slaves, palm oil, pepper, and ivory in exchange for manila and guns. The kingdom was rich and had beautiful brass art and architecture. The kings, Obas, lived in elaborate palaces. The kingdom had lots of protection, including a police …show more content…
The kingdom was officially founded in 1100 BCE. They traded gold, ivory, tortoise shells, and slaves with the Persians and Arabs from the Middle East, which resulted in a blended culture; part Bantu and part Arab. The people of the Swahili Coast were Muslims, but also had strong beliefs in spirits and medicine men. A lot of people were middlemen, who would journey back and forth between the Swahili Coast and the Middle East for trade. Kiswahili was the language of the Swahili Coast, and unlike the rest of Africa, most of their history is written. The Swahili Coast started to decline when the gold ran out of the inland mines, and eventually collapsed in 1500 CE, when the Portuguese attacked and controlled Kilwa, Mombasa, and other trading …show more content…
Though both relied heavily on trade, Benin relied heavily on the slave trade, while the Swahili Coast relied on their gold mines. Both cultures are unique; however, the culture of Benin developed solely out of the Edo people, while the Swahili Coast was a blend of Arab, Persian, and Bantu culture. These two kingdoms of Africa share a number of similarities, but also many