African Empires in the Sahel in Historical Perspective

Abstract

In the last millennium and a half, a series of empires arose, flourished, and then disappeared in the Sahel region stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. To what extent these empires were the result of autochthonous development, and to what extent were the consequences of migration and cultural diffusion through civilizational corridors, is a subject of debate. On the other hand, it is indisputable that the basis of their existence was trans-Saharan trade, providing resources and military superiority. The decline was also clearly caused by the relocation of the main trade routes, which was only completed by European colonization. These Sahelian empires and their prominent rulers are historical landmarks in today’s Africa, serving as a source of pride in a continent that has been squeezed out and forced into submission until recently. There is therefore a well-understood interest in creating an adequate historical image, cleansed of prejudices, exaggerations, and often from products of fantasy.