Captivating History - History of West Africa: A Captivating Guide to West African History, Starting from Ancient Civilizations through the Medieval Period to the Present

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West Africa is one of the most fascinating areas in the world. It consists of sixteen independent countries and is home to close to 381 million people. The area is also the fastest-growing economic region in Africa. Present-day West Africa boasts beautiful architecture, appealing cultures, and a diverse population of people. While many of the countries that make up the region only gained their independence from European countries a few decades ago, they are creating their own identities in the global economy and are drawing thousands of tourists, historians among them.

What makes West Africa so compelling to renowned historians, archaeologists, and amateur history enthusiasts? The region has an extremely interesting history that features several prominent empires as well as some of the most underrated but influential leaders in history. Learn about the mighty Mali Empire and the effects of traditional African religions, along with Islam and Christianity, on the local history and cultures in different parts of the region. Find out more about interesting figures such as Mansa Musa and Sundiata Keita, among many others. This book also contains incredible stories of the rise and fall of several dynasties and the power struggles in between.

We will start off with a brief explanation of what makes West Africa so unique in terms of ecology and geographic location. The first section of the book is dedicated to exploring the prehistory of this captivating area and details how the early West Africans developed their civilizations into mighty kingdoms that organized trade and took care of massive territories.

In time, these kingdoms were conquered by burgeoning empires that took advantage of lucrative trade routes from the north to the south of Africa. The second section of this book will discuss the most powerful empires in West African history and provides a glimpse into the lives of ordinary and wealthy citizens alike. These empires were the Mali, Ghana, and Songhai Empires, which all left a lasting impression on world history. These empires and other influential kingdoms ruled from mankinds early history well into medieval times. They brought great wealth to the people and were ruled by impressive warriors and politicians.

However, these empires were unable to fight off the threat of invading Europeans. The third section of this book will discuss the period of European colonialism, slavery, and the effects of these on modern West African countries. For hundreds of years, the area was dominated by foreign powers that exploited the population and the regions rich natural resources, which left a lasting impact on everything from the economy to local cultures. Despite these hardships, West Africa is a vibrant and incredible part of Africa with a bright future.

Follow the rise, fall, and development of a massive part of the African continent in this easy-to-read book. Discover a melting pot of African, Arabic, and European history hidden in the tropical forests and deserts of West Africa that will transform your knowledge of mankinds collective history.

West Africa is a sub-region of the African continent that is made up of sixteen different countries. Those countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cte DIvoire, Gambia (also known as The Gambia), Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. This vast region of land is home to many different cultures, religions, and environments. Ranging from arid deserts to sandy beaches to tropical jungles, West Africa boasts a diverse range of terrain that was at one time the home of several different kingdoms.

This diverse environment meant that the West Africans had different resources at their disposal and were part of some of the most lucrative trade routes in history. A quick look into what makes West Africa so unique will form the foundation of understanding the areas varied and dynamic history.

Ancient West African Ecology and Geography

West Africa takes up about one-fifth of the African continent. Most of that land is about three hundred meters above sea level, which means that most of West Africa is made up out of low-lying plains. The northern part of the region is made up of desert-like land that borders the Sahara. Rainfall is scarce. Meanwhile, the southern part is made up of forests where rain is more common. Vegetation ranges from arid plains to tall trees and massive forests. Many of these forests grow close to the Atlantic coast.

Map of West Africa

Despite belonging to the same region on a map, West Africa features incredibly diverse physical environments. These environments are completely contradictory, as there are savannahs, forests, lowlands, and highlands. The people of the region had to quickly adapt to their environments, which led to the development of contrasting cultures and farming practices. This is important to note because farming was (and still is) an integral part of West African life.