The former African continent, covered in gold, was so rich that you wouldn't dare to imagine.
Africa, in everyone's impression, has always been synonymous with poverty and underdevelopment, where people are seen as primitive and backward, living in a state of stagnation without any ambition for progress. Despite having vast land and favorable climatic conditions, it seems like they struggle to have enough to eat, let alone economic development. However, Africa hasn't always been this poor. In the past, Africa had its moments of leading global wealth.
The Nation Resting on Gold Mines: Ancient Ghana Empire Gold, since ancient times, has been the universal currency of the world, cherished by all. Africa had a nation that literally lay on a bed of gold – the ancient Ghana Empire.
Around the 8th century AD, the rising Muslim powers from the Arabian region rapidly expanded and took control of the Mediterranean coastal areas in North Africa. Their wealth and extravagant lifestyles led them to develop an obsession with gold, to the point of obsession. With demand came a market, and a trade route known as the "Gold Road" gradually emerged, crossing the Sahara Desert. Through this trade route, a kingdom in West Africa gradually grew and prospered, and that was the Ghana Empire, a nation that truly had "gold mines at home."
The first written records about the Ghana Empire were made by the Arabian geographer Al-Fazari in the 8th century, who referred to this land as "Ghāna of the Land of Gold." Just eight words stirred endless curiosity, much like the European fascination with the "Old Empires" of the East during the Age of Exploration.
Under the immense gravity of gold, more and more Arab traders crossed the desert to reach this golden kingdom. With increased external interactions and word-of-mouth spread by the Arabs, this mysterious and wealthy nation became increasingly well-known.
Just how rich were the people here at that time? Jewelry made of gold wasn't reserved for humans alone; even wealthy families' dogs wore collars made of gold. Besides the existence of actual gold mines within the country, another important reason for the wealth of ancient Ghana was its advantageous geographical location.
At that time, conducting trade across the Sahara Desert was as risky as embarking on voyages to seek wealth during the Age of Exploration, especially when trade routes were just beginning to develop. The vast desert and the long trade routes meant that merchants needed a place to rest and replenish, and the Ghana Empire was the best resting point on this journey.
Between the 9th and 11th centuries, the Ghana Empire reached its peak, monopolizing the entire gold trade along the West African coast. However, as history has shown, all that rises must eventually fall.
The Former World's Richest: Mali Empire Following the decline of the Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire rose rapidly in West Africa, establishing the largest, richest, and most powerful empire in the region. When it comes to wealth, the Mali Empire was truly affluent.
This colossal empire was founded by Sundiata, known as the "Lion King." During its peak, it was considered the financial center of Africa. The ninth ruler of this nation, Mansa Musa, led the empire during its most prosperous period. Mansa Musa's personal wealth grew in tandem with the prosperity of his nation, reaching an estimated $400 billion at its zenith. To put this into perspective, according to Forbes' list of the world's billionaires released on April 6, 2023, the current richest person globally, Arnault, has a personal fortune of $211 billion.
Mansa Musa, living in the 14th century, had a personal wealth nearly twice that of today's wealthiest person, making him the richest person in history.
With such immense wealth at his disposal, Mansa Musa was far from modest. During his pilgrimage to Mecca, he lavishly spent gold all along the way, shocking the entire Islamic world. This extravagant display of wealth served as a massive advertisement for his nation.
Merchants traveling north and south preferred to stop in Mali, witnessing the prosperity of this city of wealth. Their trade and presence further enriched the city, and, overall, Mansa Musa's extravagant spending on advertising paid off handsomely.
The Colonizers' Extravaganza and Africa's Downfall Having once reveled in prosperity, these African empires attracted the attention of colonial powers. The Age of Exploration eventually led to Africa's gradual decline, as it became a place for colonialists to exploit and subjugate.
Initially, the Portuguese, eager to break the Muslim monopoly on East-West trade routes, began seeking new pathways across the seas. They sailed from Europe to Africa and, upon discovering the gold, their greed led them to conquer the Mutapa Kingdom on the East African coast starting in 1571. Portuguese colonists on the East coast plundered gold and trade routes, while on the West coast of Africa, they engaged in even more sinister activities. Their insatiable greed for wealth changed the destiny of the entire continent, unearthing the darkest chapter in Africa's history.
Initially, colonialists resorted to brutal capture and kidnapping of Africans, transporting them back home to replenish labor forces and selling them as slaves in the New World. This led to the establishment of the transatlantic slave trade route. Over three centuries, approximately 12 million Africans were forcibly uprooted from their homes and crammed onto ships bound for the other side of the Atlantic.
The conditions on these ships were deplorable, with cramped quarters, insufficient food and water, and harsh environments. Each journey was a dance with death, with death rates during transportation generally ranging from 15% to 30%, and in some cases, entire shipments of slaves perished. However, to colonialists, these lives were considered expendable, and if one shipment died, they could easily capture another.
Crossing the Atlantic was a perilous ordeal, and arriving in the Americas didn't guarantee safety either. About one-third of these slaves died within three years, with only a minuscule minority surviving beyond a decade. The ravages of population theft, recurrent warfare, and the disruption of societies had profound and lasting effects on Africa, sowing the seeds of poverty.
Colonialism further eroded the autonomy and economic independence of African nations. Colonizers used resource exploitation and cultural suppression as means of control, leaving lasting scars on African societies.
Africa's location and natural resources were not inferior; otherwise, it wouldn't have witnessed the rise of powerful and wealthy empires. However, even the most abundant resources require people to extract and manage them. The exploitation and abuse suffered during the colonial era left Africa not only impoverished but also without the same drive and ambition it had once possessed. It led to a period of stagnation that continues to affect the continent to this day.
Fortunately, the rulers of those once prosperous empires from the past couldn't foresee the dire state of Africa today. Otherwise, the weight of that knowledge might have been too much to bear. Comparatively, China also endured colonization and aggression in its history, but luckily, many enlightened individuals rose to the occasion, averting the catastrophic path that Africa faced.
source: 科普room@知乎