Sahelian Kingdoms

Sahelian Kingdoms

Sahelian Kingdoms

The Sahelian kingdoms were a series of centralized kingdoms or empires that were centered on the Sahel, the area of grasslands south of the Sahara, from the 8th century to the 19th.

The wealth of the states came from controlling the trade routes across the desert. Their power came from having large pack animals like camels and horses that were fast enough to keep a large empire under central control and were also useful in warfare.

There were integrated kingdoms and empires, with substantial cities and significant towns; and less organised territories with large scattered populations.

People practised agriculture, stock-rearing, hunting, fishing, metalworking, textiles and ceramics. They navigated along rivers and across lakes, traded over short and long distances, and used their own currencies.

They had armored cavalry equipped with protection for both the rider and the horse, using gambeson, Leather jerkins and chainmail. They were armed with swords, lances, bows and javelins.

This gave rise to many powerful kingdoms and Empires including the three great Empires of West Africa: Ghana, Mali and Songhai.