The Asante empire

 

The Ashanti empire

The Asante Empire (Asante Twi: Asanteman), now more popularly known as the Ashanti Empire, was an Akan state that existed in what is now the country of Ghana from 1701 until 1901.[6] From the Ashanti Region, it spread to encompass the majority of Ghana as well as swaths of the Ivory Coast and Togo.

The Ashanti Empire has been extensively studied and has more historical records published by European, predominantly British, authors than any other indigenous culture of Sub-Saharan Africa because of the empire's military power, wealth, architecture, sophisticated hierarchy, and culture.

Who is the founder of the Ashanti kingdom ? 

Osei Tutu, the founder and first ruler of the Asante (Ashanti) empire (in modern-day Ghana), was born between 1660 and 1712 or 1717. He served as chief of the small state of Kumasi and realized, between 1680 and 1690, that the Asante kingdoms needed to unite in order to stand up to their powerful Denkyera neighbors to the south.

Osei Tutu, who was held captive in the Denkyera court, managed to flee eastward to the potent state of Akwamu, where he was introduced to fresh concepts of political and military organization. He traveled back to Kumasi with a few Akwamu. One of them was a priest named Okomfo Anokye, who is typically credited with introducing the fabled Golden Stool, which, in accordance with Asante legend, was brought down from heaven by the priest and, as the reservoir of the nation's spirit, became the symbol of the mystical connection between all Asante. 

The other Asante kingdoms united with Kumasi on a spiritual and material level, and Osei Tutu led their combined troops in a victorious conflict with the Denkyera in the period between 1698/99 and 1701.

What is the Ashanti kingdom known for?

The primary product of the Ashanti Empire was gold.  The gold mines became royal property under Osei Tutu.  Additionally, he changed the imperial money to gold dust.  Asante people regularly accumulated gold dust, especially the emerging wealthy merchant class.  However, even very underprivileged citizens decorated their garments and other belongings with gold dust.  The royal family and the wealthy owned larger gold ornaments that were significantly more expensive.  They were periodically melted down and shaped into fresh display designs for jewelry and statues.

Early Ashanti Empire's economy was reliant on the gold trade in the 1700s, but by the early 1800s it had turned into a significant exporter of slaves.  Slaves were initially transported to Mande and Hausa traders who traded them for products from North Africa and indirectly from Europe. The slave trade was initially concentrated in the north.  As the Ashanti attempted to satisfy the expanding demand for prisoners from the British, Dutch, and French by 1800, the trade had moved to the south.  The Ashanti were given luxury goods, some manufactured goods, and most crucially, weapons.

What caused the downfall of the Asante empire?

This deal had terrible repercussions for the Ashanti and their neighbors.  The Ashanti Empire was in a constant state of conflict, either defending or expanding its territory, from 1790 until 1896.  Most of these wars offered the chance to increase the number of slaves available for trade.  

The continual fighting also made the Empire more vulnerable to the British, who finally emerged as their principal foe.  

The Ashanti Empire opposed British incursion into their realm between 1823 and 1873.  

However, British forces managed to successfully invade the Empire by 1874 and briefly seize Kumasi.  Following an uprising by the Ashanti against British control, the Empire was once more conquered in 1896.  The British deposed and banished the Asantehene during yet another insurrection in 1900, and they included the Empire into their Gold Coast colony.