First published 1995
Patricia McKissack examines three powerful African kingdoms that dominated trade routes for over a millennium. From 500 to 1700 A.D., Ghana, Mali, and Songhay built their prosperity through gold, salt, and slave commerce that spanned the continent. McKissack strips away centuries of misconceptions and bias that have obscured these civilizations from historical understanding. Working alongside co-author Fredrick McKissack, she reconstructs the political structures, economic systems, and cultural achievements of these forgotten empires. The book reveals how modern historians and archaeologists continue recovering evidence of these kingdoms' sophistication and influence. McKissack shows readers the ongoing scholarly work that challenges long-held assumptions about medieval Africa and demonstrates the advanced nature of these trading powers.
Genres: history, african-literature, non-fiction, africa, ancient-history
Vibes: educational, informative, thought-provoking
Tropes: challenging-assumptions, historical-accuracy, scholarly-work
Setting: Africa, Ghana, Mali, Songhay
Period: 500-1700 A.D.
160 pages · Paperback · Square Fish