On 2nd april 1825 he made his famous proclamation as found in g. And, one of the pertinent questions in that book was. The portuguese who came to ghana in the 15th century found so much. One of the most famous castles in ghanas dark episode of slavery is the cape coast castle. Discover librarianselected research resources on ghana history from the questia online library, including fulltext online books. The gold coast was the name for a region on the gulf of guinea in west africa that was rich in gold and also in petroleum, sweet crude oil and natural gas. The first section of the book covers the beginnings of precolonial. It was in the castle of cape coast that the historic bond of 1844 was signed between the british and the fante confederation.
History of the gold coast and asante, based on traditions and historical facts. The beautyful ones are not yet born by ayi kwei armah, ama ata aidoos changes. It extends approximately from axim, ghana, or nearby cape three points, in the west to the volta river in the east and is so called because it was an important source of gold. Land and people modern ghana comprises the former british colony of the gold coast and the former mandated territory of british togoland. The commission issued a blue book in july 1987 outlining modalities for districtlevel elections, which were held in. Carl christian reindorf, a history of the gold coast and.
They encountered a variety of african kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial deposits of gold in the soil. A history of the gold coast and ashanti from the earliest. All texts of this book are extracted from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Danquah, and many more events in the countrys history. One reason is that it shows the level of progress of any body of knowledge or event, and the. In 1918, the eastern part of gold coast german togoland became officially a part of the country.
Introduction this book attempts to outline the history of gold mining and related subjects like marketing, trading and use of gold from the legendary times until today. The republic of ghana is named after the medieval west african ghana empire. Returning african christians in mission to the gold coast. List of books and articles about ghana history online research. Highstreet left and ghana gold coast accra post office 1910s. 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. In 1957 the colony gained independence under the name of ghana.
History of the gold coast and asante, based on traditions. A brief history of the basel mission in the gold coast the basel mission bm was founded in the swiss city of basel in 1815. Feb 18, 2017 the wars were mainly due to ashanti attempts to establish strong control over the coastal areas of what is now ghana. A timeline history of the gold coast, queensland australia. Accra, ghana, africa, postcards ca 1908, gold coast w. The author 18341917 stated his purpose as the need for such a history by a ghanaian, conscious of the customs and tradition of the people. The first european explorers to arrive at the coast were the portuguese in 1471. A history of the gold coast of west africa alfred burdon. The work has been used as an authority in the law courts of ghana, where customs and their usages are relevant to interpretation of the law. Gold coast british colony, history of ghana 19661979.
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. Sep 23, 2017 facts to remember was a treasured book of facts on gold coast, asante, and british, and indeed world history. 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. Kwame nkrumah and the united gold coast convention ugcc led by dr.
While ghana was under colonial rule, it was known as the gold coast. It was a british colony until march 6, 1957, when it became independent as the state of 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 the greenwood histories of the modern nations kindle edition. 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. Ghanas history part 2 the gold coast 19662000 the sequel to ghanas history the gold coast colonial independence from britain. 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.
Gold coast and ghana old africa pictures and history. History of the central region ghana and the infamous cape coast. The region was the first area in the country to make contact with the europeans. Modern ghana comprises the former british colony of the gold coast and the former mandated territory of british togoland. Colonial rule transformed what was known as the gold coast economically, socially, and politically, but it contained the seeds of its own demise.
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. The gold coast hinterlands supply of cedar began drawing timber cutters to the region in large numbers in the mid 1800s and in 1865 the inland township of nerang named after the local aboriginal word neerang, meaning shovel nosed shark was surveyed and established as a base for the industry. After world war ii an increasingly more effective nationalist movement challenged british rule, and in 1957 ghana became independent. 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. Finally there came emancipation and the evolution of modern ghana. Ghana history background education, coast, schools. Discover these surprising facts about ghana youtube. 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. A history of the gold coast of west africa alfred burdon ellis snippet view 1971. Gold coast, section of the coast of the gulf of guinea, in africa. At the time of the mapping, queensland was not a state but was still part of.
The first europeans to arrive at the coast were the portuguese in 1471. Homegoing a brief history of ghana and the gold coast. 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. 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. Drawing a colorful and lively picture of historical events, it was written from an african. An area of intense colonial rivalry from the 17th century, it was acquired by the british in the 19th century. By the midnineteenth century, the british had emerged as the dominant european power, creating the gold coast colony in 1874. In 1957, when the leaders of the former british colony of the gold coast sought an appropriate name for their. The ashanti territories became part of the gold coast colony on 1 january 1902. Facts to remember was a treasured book of facts on gold coast, asante, and british, and indeed world history. Ghana, officially republic of ghana, republic 2015 est. Europeans reached this region of africa in 1482, and for centuries afterwards, various european empires and trading companies set up trading posts, known as factories there.
It is an historical overview the kind that every library needs as basic, general academic research material. 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 portuguese were the first europeans to arrive at the guinea coast in 1471. Kwame nkrumah was born on 21 september 1909 in nkroful, gold coast now in ghana to a poor and illiterate family. By the midnineteenth century, the british had emerged as the dominant european power. Sep 10, 2012 ghana s history part 2 the gold coast 19662000 the sequel to ghana s history the gold coast colonial independence from britain.
These statistics tell the history of ghana through its population data, accounts and lists of the colonys officers. 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. Covering 500 years of ghanas history, the ghana reader provides a multitude of historical, political, and cultural perspectives on this iconic african nation. History of the central region ghana and the infamous cape. A short history of ghana from earliest times until 1980. 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 began as a trade lodge constructed by the portuguese in 1555 on a part of the gold coast, which later became known as the cape coast. The wars were mainly due to ashanti attempts to establish strong control over the coastal areas of what is now ghana. Read more about the shocking history of ghanas slave fortresses and their. 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. Basel mission gold coast papers, 18941904 3 brigette c. An area of intense colonial rivalry from the 17th century, it was acquired by the british in the 19th. This former british colony of 92,000 square miles about 238,000 square kilometers shares boundaries with three frenchspeaking nations.
It highlights the pivotal role they played in setting an example of a christian lifestyle. This is primarily based on the years that followed after dr. The gold coast in the 1950s was a country with the highest level of education in the whole of subsaharan africa. The history of ghana in a snap the history of ghana goes far back into the th century. 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.
It is bordered by the cote divoire on the west, burkina faso on the north, and togo on the east. 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 gold coast of africa the gold coast, now known as ghana, is one of many civilizations of africa. The earliest history of formal, westernstyle education in ghana is directly associated with the history of european activities on the gold coast. The history of ghana the greenwood histories of the modern nations 97803318948. A love story, and my first coup detat by john dramani mahama.
Carl christian reindorf s history of the gold coast and asante has a special place in west african historiography. 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. Their intention to establish schools was expressed in imperial instructions. Its capital, cape coast, was also the capital of the gold coast until 1877, when the capital was moved to accra. Ghana gold coast, 18461939 british online archives microform. The history of ghana is in the series greenwood histories of the modern nations. This book is a fascinating account of the authors life amidst the gold coasts struggle for freedom from british colonial rule, the deadly rivalry between the convention peoples party cpp of dr.
A history of the gold coast and ashanti from the earliest times to the commencement of the twentieth century, v. A history of the gold coast accessrestricteditem true. Authors and publishers all over the world now have a state of the art platform to launch, publish and sell their books both in hard copy and ebooks by just a click of a button. Ghana succumbed to attacks by its neighbors in the 11th century, but its name and reputation endured. A history of the gold coast accessrestricteditem true addeddate 20190517 12. 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. British business strategies in the gold coast, author. 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. They used these colonies to exploit the resources rather than to settle large numbers of subjects the portuguese gold coast was the first claim.
The postal history of gold coast smithsonian libraries. Thus claridges book, a history of the gold coast and ashanti, will be dealt with here with no. 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. List of books and articles about ghana history online. Whether discussing the asante kingdom and the gold coasts importance to european commerce and transatlantic slaving, ghanas brief period under british. The name ghana was derived from the medieval mali empire which was also known as the ghana empire of west africa. The author places these items of philatelic history in the context of the overall history of the region, from the first visit by portuguese explorers in 1471, through the republic of ghanas. Take a close look at the coast of ghana, and you will find myriad ancient castles and forts. Ghanas history part 2 the gold coast 19662000 youtube. The english translation of the book was published inbaselin 1895. Two old postcards from sekondi, western region of today ghana. Euroafrican marriages in ghana and the gold coast new narratives the infamous gold and slave coasts of west africa conjure up images of european brutality beyond belief that by now every student of black history knows by rote.
In 1471, the portuguese invaded this area and became involved. The gold coast was later adopted to by the english colonisers. History of the gold coast and asante, based on traditions and. Modern ghana comprises the former british colony of the gold coast and the former. Essays on the akan and the kingdom of asante by ivor wilks ohio university press, 1993. The first section of the book covers the beginnings of precolonial statehood in the area of west africa that would become ghana. The standards in the collection are for the primary and middle school levels. The portuguese who came to ghana in the 15th century found so much gold between the rivers ankobra and the volta that they named the place mina meaning mine. 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. Dec 15, 2019 the region was the first area in the country to make contact with the europeans.
Nkroful was a small village in the nzema area, 5 in the far southwest of the gold coast, close to the frontier with the french colony of the ivory coast. The gold coast supplied many of the civil servants working in nigeria. A brief history of ghana spainexchange country guide. The rise of gold coast nationalism, 18501928 as want to read. Ghana history background education, coast, schools, and.
Ghana, the road to independence, 19191957 revised edition. The dutch arrived in 1598 and in 1642 incorporated the portuguese territory. The book includes sections on physical and political geography, political history, social and political conditions, and economic conditions. The history of ghana the greenwood histories of the. The gold coast hinterlands supply of cedar began drawing timber cutters to the region in large numbers in the mid 1800s and in 1865 the inland township of nerang named after the local aboriginal word neerang, meaning shovel nosed shark was surveyed and established as a base for the industry the surrounding valleys and plains were quickly developed as cattle, sugar and cotton farms and.
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