Ep 3. Empires of Gold | Hour Three

Empires of Gold is the third episode of the first season of the documentary series Africa's Great Civilizations. The episode takes the viewers on a journey through the history of Africa's empires that were built on the back of the gold trade.

The focus of the episode is on the ancient kingdom of Ghana, which was located in West Africa. The program delves into how the kingdom came to be established and how it gained its wealth through the gold and salt trades. Additionally, it explores the kingdom's interactions with other empires and how it dealt with the arrival of Islam in its territory.

The episode then moves on to discuss the next great African civilization to emerge, the Mali Empire. The Mali Empire inhabited the same territory as the Ghana Empire, and it was built on the foundations of the Ghanaian Kingdom's success. The program takes the viewers through how the Mali Empire became wealthy through the gold trade, and how they were able to establish a powerful political system that linked them to other parts of Africa and beyond.

The Mali Empire had many prominent historical figures, and the program explores their contributions to the empire, including the legendary king Mansa Musa. Mansa Musa was not only one of the richest men in history but also a devout Muslim who embarked on a famous pilgrimage to Mecca. The program explores how his pilgrimage helped to spread Islam throughout West Africa and beyond.

Empires of Gold then moves on to discuss one of Africa's most significant and expansive empires, the Songhai Empire. The episode delves into how the empire rose to prominence, how it was able to defeat its Mali Empire predecessors, and how it operated as an extremely successful trading nation. In particular, the program focuses on the political organization of the Songhai Empire, which allowed it to develop a centralized administration system that was far ahead of its time.

The program then takes the viewer through the decline of the Songhai Empire as European colonizers, like the French and British, began to invade Africa in the late 18th and 19th centuries. The program delves into how colonialism impacted the economy, culture, and political organizations of the former African empires.

Empires of Gold provides a holistic view of how West African societies flourished through the gold trade and how this commodity was integral to the creation of some of Africa's most remarkable civilizations. The program also shares the hardships these civilizations faced with colonialism and how they were able to adapt and survive. Through this detailed exploration of history, Empires of Gold shines a light on the ingenuity and resilience of the African people who helped shape our world today.