History of ashanti kings and the whole country itself and other writings, by. Ghana, the road to independence, 19191957 uniform title. The history of the methodist church ghana by joseph m. After world war ii an increasingly more effective nationalist movement challenged british rule, and in 1957 ghana became independent. The grip of imperialism chief among these problems is that imperialism, with. By the midnineteenth century, the british had emerged as the dominant european power, creating the gold coast colony in 1874. Republic of ghana in africa, ghana ranks 24th by size out of 54 countries, 14th by population and th by population density.
British colony of the gold coast becomes independent ghana on march 6. Gocking provides a historical overview of ghana from the emergence of precolonial states through increasing contact with europeans that led to the establishment of formal colonial rule by great britian at the end of the 19th century. Colonial rule transformed what was known as the gold coast economically, socially, and politically, but it contained the seeds of its own demise. The standards in the collection are for the primary and middle school levels. Education, history, culture, scholarly associations. Ghana, officially republic of ghana, republic 2015 est. In fante confederacy in what is now southern ghana. The book includes sections on physical and political geography, political history, social and political conditions, and economic conditions. On 6 march 1957 the former gold coast colony came to the end of its road to independence and celebrated its entry into the family of autonomous nations as the state of ghana. A history of the gold coast accessrestricteditem true. Ghanas history part 2 the gold coast 19662000 youtube.
A history of the gold coast of west africa alfred burdon. Ghana, formerly the gold coast, has been associated with gold from time immemorial. They built their first castle in 1482 and named the region gold coast for the. Two old postcards from sekondi, western region of today ghana. A history of the gold coast accessrestricteditem true addeddate 20190517 12. British colony of the gold coast becomes independent ghana. A political and economic history of ghana, 19572003. Book description events affecting the shape of modern ghana can be dated back to the 14th and 15th centuries, when the guinea coast came into contact with various merchantile companies. Castles such as elmina, cape coast and ussher fort have been turned into museums and offer guided tours. Ghana history background education, coast, schools. Whether discussing the asante kingdom and the gold coasts importance to european commerce and transatlantic slaving, ghanas brief period under british.
By the midnineteenth century, the british had emerged as the dominant european power. They encountered a variety of african kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial deposits of gold in the soil. In 1957 the colony gained independence under the name of ghana. Ghana, again because of its wealth in gold, exchanged gold for slaves, beads, cotton, cloth and palm oil from the benin state in modern nigeria. Ghana, the road to independence, 19191957 revised edition. It is supposed that the highly prized aggrey beads found in the gold coast. Covering 500 years of ghanas history, the ghana reader provides a multitude of historical, political, and cultural perspectives on this iconic african nation. A brief history of ghana spainexchange country guide. Gold coast remained the name of this country until at independence, when the leaders of the independence struggle adopted the name ghana in place of gold coast.
Modernday ghana was formed when the britishadministered part of togoland voted to join the gold coast in an independent state, in a unsupervised plebiscite in may 1956. The first section of the book covers the beginnings of precolonial statehood in the area of west africa that would become ghana. The name ghana, which in the mande language means war chief, was taken from the ancient western sudanese empire called ghana, which rose and fell between ad 500 and ad 1250 in the area. The history of ghana in a snap the history of ghana goes far back into the th century. The first european explorers to arrive at the coast were the portuguese in 1471. Gold coast to ghana in accepting the british governments offer of 1951 to make him leader of a government pledged to an eventual african independence nkrumah told his voters.
Land and people modern ghana comprises the former british colony of the gold coast and the former mandated territory of british togoland. Com, accra, ghana these web pages have not been updated since 1995. This volume is one in a continuing series of books prepared by the federal. Although relatively small in area and population, ghana is one of the leading countries of africa and is celebrated for its rich history. The gold coast of africa the gold coast, now known as ghana, is one of many civilizations of africa. Highstreet left and ghana gold coast accra post office 1910s. It was controlledby sundiata in 1240 ad, and absorbed into the larger mali empire.
A political and economic history of ghana, 19572003 springerlink. The mighty asante empire to the north was conquered and made read more. The portuguese were the first europeans to arrive at the guinea coast in 1471. Shama on the ghana coast was the entrepot of trade.
This was a history moment for the people of ghana as well as for. Ghanas history part 2 the gold coast 19662000 the sequel to ghanas history the gold coast colonial independence from britain. The republic of ghana was formerly known as the gold coast until midnight march 6th 1957, when it was liberated from the hands of the british. It was the first subsaharan african nation to gain independence from foreign colonizers. It starts in the precolonial period, then the incursion by the traders of the west followed by their gradual domination until full blown colonial rule was established. Their intention to establish schools was expressed in imperial instructions.
Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Most ghanaians descended from migrating tribes that probably came down the volta river valley at the beginning of the th century. Accra, ghana, africa, postcards ca 1908, gold coast w. A new name of great resonance in african history is adopted ghana although the ancient kingdom of that name was far to the north, in presentday mali. Gold weight in the form ofa portrait mask asante third edition, first printing, 1995. Covering 500 years of ghana s history, the ghana reader provides a multitude of historical, political, and cultural perspectives on this iconic african nation. The three colors of the flag red, green, and black and the black star in the middle are all symbolic of the panafricanist movement. Ghana, country of western africa, situated on the coast of the gulf of guinea. In 1957, when the leaders of the former british colony of the gold coast sought an appropriate name for their newly independent statethe first black african nation to gain its independence from colonial rulethey named their new country after ancient ghana. Data on ghana introduction in addition to the data below, the links at the bottom of this page will provide you with more information. The gold they found was so fine that it fetched a premium price in europe. Ghana, formerly known as the gold coast, was the first african country to the south of the sahara to gain political independence from colonial rule in 1957.
Edusaeyison historical development and legal status of the church the genesis of wesleyan missionary activities in the gold coast, now ghana 1835f, and the arrival and work of the rev. In the 15th century, the first europeans arrived in the area that had come to be known as the gold coast, the name the region would keep until it regained independence in 1957. Gold coast british colony, history of ghana 19661979. The history of ghana is in the series greenwood histories of the modern nations. The republic of ghana is named after themedieval ghana empire of west africa. A love story, and my first coup detat by john dramani mahama. Ghana s population is concentrated along the coast and in the principal cities of accra and kumasi. In 1918, the eastern part of gold coast german togoland became officially a part of the country. In 1471, the portuguese invaded this area and became involved. Take a close look at the coast of ghana, and you will find myriad ancient castles and forts. But this scheme in itself is insufficient to solve the many and pressing prob lems of the gold coast. Kente cloth network computer systems, ltd via ghana.
The materials in parts i and ii have been predominantly descriptive, placing the gold coast in both historical and modern settings. In 1960 ghana became a republic, with nkrumah as president, and in 1964 a oneparty state, the cpp being. The first section of the book covers the beginnings of precolonial. Ghana achieved independence within the commonwealth on 6 march 1957. Libraryofcongress cataloginginpublicationdata ghana. In the 11th and 12th centuries, the ghana empire began mining and trading gold, and in the th century the empire was conquered by the kingdom of melle. Read more about the shocking history of ghanas slave fortresses and their. Homegoing by yaa gyasi, ghana must go by taiye selasi, wife of the gods by kwei quartey, the beautyful ones are not yet born by a. Finally there came emancipation and the evolution of modern ghana. Ghana succumbed to attacks by its neighbors in the 11th century, but its name and reputation endured. Any of the main book shops, but especially the bookshops in the 3 main universities in accralegon, kumasi, and cape coast are the best places to find books published in ghana and elsewhere on ghana. True, there is a project to dam the volta river and thus to generate electric power and construct an aluminium smelter.
Whether discussing the asante kingdom and the gold coasts importance to european commerce and transatlantic slaving, ghanas brief period under british colonial rule, or the emergence of its modern democracy, the volumes eighty. Gold coast and ghana old africa pictures and history. Whether discussing the asante kingdom and the gold coast s importance to european commerce and transatlantic slaving, ghana s brief period under british colonial rule, or the emergence of its modern democracy, the volumes eighty. History of british gold coast the british colony in west africa, 18211957 the gold coast was a british colony on the gulf of guinea in west africa that became the independent nation of ghana in 1957. The gold coast crown colony, on the gulf of guinea coast, was established in 1874 in fante and ga lands near the british coastal trading forts. The name ghana was derived from the medieval mali empire which was also known as the ghana empire of west africa. Today 30odd surviving forts, castles and former trading posts can be found along ghanas coast, many bearing witness to the largest forced migration in history and to the atrocities humanity is capable of committing.
The gold coast was a british colony on the gulf of guinea in west africa from 1867 to its independence as the nation of ghana in 1957. Marking the beginning of the slaves perilous journey during the era of the slave trade, these fortresses were the last memory slaves had of their homeland before being shipped off across the atlantic, never to return again. A short history of ghana from earliest times until 1980. Most of my favorite books on ghana and west africa were found there, while i lived there. Page 2 the same shall exist between the subjects of the kings of ashantee and dwabin, and all nations of africa residing under the protection of the companys forts and settlements on the gold coast, and, it is hereby agreed, that there are no palavers now existing, and that neither party has any claim upon the other. For news about ghana, see accraexpats how to guide page how to keep posted with ghana news official name. All texts of this book are extracted from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. List of books and articles about ghana history online. The world, which is showing an everincreasing consciousness of african affairs, has evinced much interest in this new state, the first british colony in tropical africa. The earliest history of formal, westernstyle education in ghana is directly associated with the history of european activities on the gold coast. Gold mining has, for a long time, been one of the most important economic activities in ghana. Ethnically, ghana is divided into small groups speaking more than 50 languages and dialects. Ghana was the title of the kings who ruled the kingdom.
Kamsler 111015 collection scope and content note the collection consists of practical manuals given to missionaries as a standard for teaching africans from ghana gold coast. Ghana history background education, coast, schools, and. Page 2 the same shall exist between the subjects of the kings of ashantee and dwabin, and all nations of africa residing under the protection of the companys forts and settlements on the gold coast, and, it is hereby agreed, that there are no palavers now existing, and that neither party has. Basel mission gold coast papers, 18941904 3 brigette c. This former british colony of 92,000 square miles about 238,000 square kilometers shares boundaries with three frenchspeaking nations. The republic of ghana is named after the medieval ghana empire of west africa. In 1471, the portuguese invaded this area and became involved in gold trade, giving the region the name, the gold coast. It is an historical overview the kind that every library needs as basic, general academic research material. A study of the independence movement in ghana sit digital. The beautyful ones are not yet born by ayi kwei armah, ama ata aidoos changes. Homegoing a brief history of ghana and the gold coast. It was a british colony until march 6, 1957, when it became independent as the state of ghana. The gold coast presentday ghana was comprised of the gold coast colony, bordering the gulf of guinea, and two inland territories, ashanti and the northern territories protectorate.
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