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Title: | Some thoughts on state-formation in the Western Sudan before the seventeenth century |
Author: | Fage, J.D. |
Book title: | Boston University Papers in African History / ed. by J. Butler |
Year: | 1964 |
Pages: | 17-34 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Mali |
Subjects: | history traditional polities |
Abstract: | The history of the Western Sudan from at least the tenth century up to the time of the Moroccan invasion of 1591 is largely the story of three successive great empires: ancient Ghana, ancient Mali, and the Songhai empire of Gao. Although from time to time reference will be made in this paper to features of other states, this is done essentially for purposes of comparison, to illuminate the nature of the imperial character and history of Ghana, Mali and Songhai. Throughout the period under discussion the dominating political, economic and cultural initiatives and influences stemmed from these three great empires. The intention of this paper, then, is to try and assess what were the formative principles at work in these states. Notes. |