Aoudaghost Mauritania

Aoudaghost, unveiling the lost economic hub of the Sahara

diary of an explorer

When we see and talk about early civilizations in West Africa, we usually affirm that the reason a population chose a place to inhabit was the presence of a humid climate with a good quantity of water, possibly protected by the infamous and increasing winds and by the approaching desertification.

The Aoudaghost area was first inhabited for this reason as well, but at a certain point during its history, it started becoming a town that was sought after for its economic, commercial, and political opportunities.

Aoudaghost , at the border of the Hodh El Gharbi and Tagant regions, was one of the most important and thriving economic centers of the Medieval Sahara Desert, with Oualata and Ouadan.

These settlements gained their power thanks to the control they had over the salt and gold trades with the civilizations of the geographical area known as Sudan, to the South of Mauritania and Mali, and with those of the Maghreb, as well as because of the unprecedented level of luxury it was able to reach compared to the rest of Mauritania.

The timeline of Aoudaghost’s occupations is surprisingly extended and complex, ranging from the 7th/8th century to the 17th century A.D. , with 7 different occupations during this period.

Nowadays, Aoudaghost is believed to have been identified in the ruins of Tedgaoust, and despite having a definite understanding of the main points that contributed to its greatness and of the ones that led to its decline, the history of the town remains shrouded in mystery.

To understand the complex situation of Aoudaghost, we must take a look into the area before it became a populated town.

COORDINATES      17°25’27" N  10°24’36" W

Aoudaghost before the occupations

Before becoming a stable civilization, between the 4th and the 8th century , the Aoudaghost area was already inhabited by nomads and semi-nomads , the pastoral community of the Znaga and a community of farmers. These two populations were separated, and they were never able to unite and grow into a more complex civilization.

The pastoral diet wasn’t diverse enough for the Znaga to survive and live a healthy life during the dry season, which is why they used to attack and steal resources from the farmers.

Some of the disputed goods stolen were cereals , dates , and even medicinal plants . These actions constantly caused battles and disagreements over the territory, driving the two groups further apart.

During the same period, in the Adrar region, a population known as Bafur was able to grow a wealthy, though not numerous, sedentary community of date palms cultivators . Over time, part of the Bafurs was engulfed by the Berbers moving south towards Aoudaghost, bringing their knowledge and experience in something that the southern regions were lacking, such as date palms.

The Transition into a Civilization

During the 8th century , trading routes increasingly expanded, enabling the possibility for Mauritanian communities to enter the economic and political life of the Sahelian Ghana Empire , and commerce with the area of Sudan became tangible.

Numerous Maghreb and Berber populations started to move South in search of a better life, as many of them were already experiencing difficult times with the increasing desertification and drought of the northern latitudes .

It’s believed that the first people to civilize the area and make Aoudaghost an actual town were the Gangara , a well-established and organized agricultural population that used to build dense villages in upland locations and thrived off of the abundant growth of cereals such as millet, mostly through the use of a method of dry agriculture, based on rainfalls.

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By this description, the Gangara very closely resemble one of the first populations able to create settlements in Central Mauritania, the people of Dhar Tichitt .

That civilization inhabited the legendary cliffs of the Tagant region for almost two millennia, from around 2300 B.C. to 500 B.C. , where they built a large number of dense settlements on the top of the Dhar, living off of the wild millett found and then grown in the area. There isn’t enough information to either confirm or dismiss the idea that the first inhabitants of Aoudaghost were the descendants of these people, but it seems plausible. It certainly is fascinating.

During its first two occupations , ranging from the 7th to the 9th century , Aoudaghost was a simple chiefdom , with only one level of authority and control above the community’s level. These three centuries were characterized by regular and growing trades between herders, farmers, artisans, and the rest of the community.

The step of trading with outsiders was going to be taken in the third occupation, where the town would grow true urban and economic systems.

The organization and experience of the people inhabiting Aoudaghost in the first two occupations permitted it to grow beyond many other places in the region, going from knowing only terracing and semi-nomadic settlements to having its first permanent mud-brick buildings with enclosures and wells .

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The Peak of Aoudaghost

The third occupation ( 10th-11th century ) is considered the peak of Aoudaghost . It was during this period that the town gained great importance in the commerce of North-West Africa, becoming a vital meeting point between the Mediterranean and Sudanese cultures and crafts .

Al-Bakri, a legendary historian of the 11th century, described Aoudaghost as a large town surrounded by gardens of date palms, where wheat cultivation was abundant thanks to the many wells of sweet water and the quality of the utensils used.

Excellent cucumbers, fig trees, vines, large quantities of henna, numerous sheep and cattle, and even honey imported from Sudan, are the types of wealth and luxury that the people of Aoudaghost experienced. Some reports say that the populated area covered around 25 thousand square meters.

The town also had a big Mosque and many smaller ones, a market full of people at all times, and slaves so numerous that each family possibly had a thousand of them .

Yes, slaves actually played a major role in Aoudaghost’s success. During the trade era between Aoudaghost and Sudan, the former used to supply salt from the Awlil and Ijil mines to the southern Sahelian regions, rich in manpower and agricultural potential but simply lacking in quality salt.

In contrast, Sudan's populations used to send slaves as compensation . Sudanese slaves were highly sought after as concubines and cooks, but at Aoudaghost they used to cover intense labor jobs such as field workers , while the manual laborers were also well-diggers, domestics, and artisans .

As vague as our sense of this population is, the association of several groups of mixed ethnicity and different classes is very much in keeping with the town’s geographical position and its Sudanese-influenced culture, taste, and production techniques.

The numerous buildings with Mediterranean influence also show that merchants and, possibly, small communities of Maghreb people used to live there.

It was during this time that Aoudaghost developed a full-blown industrial area, with furnaces and buildings for the production of tools, building materials, ceramics, and jewelry , able to sustain a regional market supplying different regions of West Africa up until its decline in the 13th century.

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The Almoravids Conquest of Aoudaghost

The Almoravids were a Berber tribe that built an empire in Northwestern Africa and Muslim Spain in the 11th and 12th centuries.

They attacked and took Aoudaghost in the year 1054 , causing some sparse damages but not too many changes. The Almoravids possibly decided to transfer from the North due to a particular year of drought .

Ibn Yasin, the spiritual leader of the Almoravids, had a teacher,  Wajjaj Zalwl, a renowned preacher who used to meditate in times of drought. The nomads were keen to listen to him, someone who they believed had the power to influence the amount of water they got. For this reason, it's believed that the Almoravids decided to go further South to Aoudaghost, where the more humid climate still persisted, after a decisive dry year.

Though it is usually believed that the Almoravids’ occupation of the town is what caused its demise, archeological evidence doesn’t agree.

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First off, there are no signs of pillaging and burning to the structures. More importantly, the Almoravids had no reason to tear down such a thriving community and commerce net.

Then, it seems that the main goal of the Almoravids was to send away the North African merchants , resulting not only in the local merchants being able to continue the activity that helped in building the success of Aoudaghost, but also in the opportunity to increase the volume of trades.

During their short occupation, the Almoravids were able to build a thriving gold trade connection with Ghana. Gold became an extremely valuable asset in northwestern Africa during the 11th century, as the centerpiece of commerce of the trans-Saharan routes . Gold was taken from countries located upstream on the Senegal and Niger rivers, then exchanged for North African products, of which one of the main ones was salt .

The position of Aoudaghost was once again exploited for this commerce, serving as the perfect intermediary .

Aoudaghost maintained the level of salt and goods trade through the 12th and 13th centuries , as is suggested by the finds in the whole area of Central Mauritania from that period. However, there is no doubt that the decline of Aoudaghost was near , and as it often happened in the Sahara, one of the main reasons was the greater force of nature.

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The Decline of Aoudaghost and the Last Occupations

From the 12th century onwards, Aoudaghost started going through deep changes in climate and desertification , an uncontrollable phenomenon that has been the demise of many civilizations throughout history.

That same century a few streets started to get abandoned due to encroaching sands and overall damage to certain parts of the town. Still, it was the 13th century that saw the size of Aoudaghost’s urban area shrink to a fraction due to the definite desertification that was hitting it.

At the same time, water also started to become a problem . Some signs indicate that towards the end of the Almoravids’ occupation many wells had to be changed and reinforced, but, more importantly, the archeological evidence shows that floods and dry seasons started to alternate more drastically , creating a serious possibility for the breeding of diseases such as Malaria and the overall pollution of the water. The quality of life had severely diminished .

The accelerating drying conditions were not restricted to Aoudaghost. One can only imagine the shrinking fields, the contracting supplies of food and water, and the diminishing pasture availability for nearby herds.

While some farmers undoubtedly moved towards the better-watered south, others began to install themselves on the outskirts of the town.

For the first time since its rise to power, Aoudaghost began to take on a rural character, quickly going through an inevitable downfall.

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But there also were some commerce-driven reasons for the fall of Aoudaghost .

The Znaga people were the ones who followed up the Almoravids’ occupation, and though they also had no interest in disrupting the economic model Aoudaghost was following, the town had started to head towards the point of no return .

An enormous factor in the decline was the area of importance for commerce with other Saharan and Sahelian populations, which in the 13th century moved east , towards Timbuktu and the Niger bend . At that time the Ghana Empire had fallen, and the Mali Empire was on the rise. For this reason, the towns of Oualata , in the southeast of Mauritania, and Ouadane , a town with easier access to the salt mines, surpassed Aoudaghost in importance.

All the factors at play rapidly changed Aoudaghost, described in a 14th-century account as a ‘ small, non-populous town whose inhabitants were dependent on camels for their livelihood ’.

The Sahara Desert which accompanied the fall of the town of Aoudaghost was much different than the one that saw it rising, having gone through drastic changes in climate, expansions, and diversifications in its economy.

By the end of the 14th century , Aoudaghost was abandoned , after more than six centuries of being the center-point of the Mauritanian commerce with the south, after knowing a level of luxury that no other part of central Sahara had experienced, and after being the model for numerous populations who were able to thrive and set standards for the ones to come.

Aoudaghost Today

A team of French archeologists conducted the only large-scale excavations in Aoudaghost between the 1960s and the 1970s , accounting for most of the discoveries we know.

Since 2001, the site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

Today, Aoudaghost is in a state of complete abandonment . The remains of the once-thriving town are concentrated in the area most protected by the wind and sand, with several walls and fortifications yet to be fully englobed by the desert. From the adjacent cliff, the current state of Aoudaghost can be seen in its entirety, but only the mind can imagine the Aoudaghost that served as an economic and cultural hub for the Sahara

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The legend in the middle of the desert

Once one of the most important trading cities in West Africa, you can't even find Aoudaghost on Google Maps today. Instead, it's Tegdaoust that you have to search for to get to the location of the former metropolis. Well, challenge accepted. It's worth the effort, anyway; Aoudaghost is home to the ruins of one of the country's most historically significant cities. The town's heyday and decline were closely linked to the development of the Ghana Empire. Wars and the flourishing of new cities such as Oualata led to Aoudaghost's loss of importance. It was not until 1927 that the site could be located again and extensive excavation work began. In addition to relics of various settlement phases, graves from pre-Islamic times and even prehistoric rock drawings were discovered. It is hardly surprising, then, that Mauritania is seeking UNESCO World Heritage status for the ruined city. The nearest town is Tamchekett, 35 km away. Aoudaghost is scheduled as an optional stop on one of our southern tours. It is a good idea to drive to the ruins on the way between Ayoun el Atrous and Kiffa. One or two additional days should be planned for this. An overnight stay on site in the open air is possible without any problems. Similar destinations in Mauritania's south are Koumbi Saleh and Ksar el Barka. The old town of Ouadane in the Adrar region is also absolutely worth seeing for visitors interested in history.

  • Aoudaghost ruins

aoudaghost ghana

A city of many empires

Aoudaghost has its best days long behind it. To be more precise: Centuries behind it. But few cities can claim to have had such an eventful history as the former metropolis of the West African Ghana Empire (also: Wagadu).

Center of the Trans-Sahara trade

Rock paintings prove that the history of the place began before our era. The city as such was probably founded by the Lamtuna, a tribal group of the Sanhadja Berbers, between the 5th and 7th centuries. Originally an independent market town, Aoudaghost was probably conquered by the Soninke in the 10th century and came under the influence of the Ghana Empire. Similar to Oualata later, the town represented a link between the Maghreb and the black African south. At that time, trade routes ran from Taghaza, now Mali, to Sidschilmasa, Morocco. It is believed that Aoudaghost at times represented the most important West African trading center in the trans-Saharan trade. The trade of gold, slaves, and perhaps salt made the city wealthy. Thus, the Islamic geographer al-Bakri described Aoudaghost as a place full of date palms and fig trees. A city where cucumbers and grapes were grown, sheep and cattle were raised, and wheat fields could be irrigated. But such wealth aroused desires, and so the heyday of Aoudaghost is closely linked in time to its decline.

Aoudaghost - the Troy of Mauritania?

At that time, the Ghanaian empire was mainly threatened by the Berber dynasty of the Almoravids, who finally conquered Aoudaghost around 1054 under Ibn Yassin.  If a conquest does not automatically mean final decline, this was probably the case in Aoudaghost. It was not least the rise of Oualata that led to the permanent decline of the old metropolises of Aoudaghost and Koumbi Saleh. Descriptions from the 12th century make the place appear only as a village. Finally, in the 17th century at the latest, it was completely abandoned.

It took more than 250 years until a French lieutenant armed himself with medieval Arabic writings and found the ruins of Aoudaghost in 1927. The "Schliemannian" Troy method apparently did not fail to have its effect in Mauritania. Earliest finds were glazed pottery and jewelry. Later French excavations in the 1960s and 1970s discovered several phases of settlement between the 7th and 11th centuries. Graves from pre-Islamic and even petroglyphs from pre-Christian times were also found.

On the way to world heritage

Today the excavation site is still clearly visible. The artificial mound extends over 12 hectares. Layered sandstones, remains of columns, shards of ancient pottery and traces of metal can be examined on site. Nearby, there are cave paintings dating back thousands of years. In 2001, Mauritania put Aoudaghost on the UNESCO tentative list, along with Koumbi Saleh and Azougui. Perhaps one day they will have the same significance as the Ksour Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichitt and Oualata, which have already been declared World Heritage Sites.

Aoudaghost is secluded. It is over 100 kilometers to the next paved road, the Route de l'Espoir. The next largest town is Ayoun el Atrous, 120 kilometers away on sand runwas. No one comes here by chance, but it is worth it, because between nomads, oases and impressive natural scenery, the journey can also be part of the reward. If desired, we can easily include Aoudaghost in our southern tours. We recommend a one-day stay with a possible overnight stay in the open.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Aoudaghost

Stardust's Shadow

Copyleft cc-by-nc-sa ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ ) unless specified otherwise., ancient cities of the wagadu empire: exploring aoudaghost.

While the driver and “guide�? prayed, I wandered the ruins of the old city. Among rocks tumbled from ancient walls, shards of ancient pottery, and fragments of what looked like forged metal, I imagined the life of the people who apparently occupied this city of the Wagadu (Ghana) kingdom around the 8 th to 11 th centuries.

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Aoudaghost

Site Information

Country: Mauritania

District: Hodh El Gharbi Region

Category: Historic Cities and Regions

Site History: 7th Century AD

Oldest Culture: Berber

Later Cultures: Islamic

Site Features: Islamic Monuments

UNESCO Tentative List

Official Name: Archaeological site of Tegdaoust

Date of Submission: 2001

Exact Location

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About: Aoudaghost

Aoudaghost, also transliterated as Awadaghust, Awdughast, Awdaghusht, Awdaghost, and Awdhaghurst (Arabic: أودغست) is a former Berber town in Hodh El Gharbi, Mauritania. It was an important oasis town at the southern end of a trans-Saharan caravan route that is mentioned in a number of early Arabic manuscripts. The archaeological ruins at Tegdaoust in southern Mauritania are thought to be the remains of the medieval town.

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The Palgrave Handbook of Africa and the Changing Global Order pp 25–42 Cite as

Africa’s Contributions to World Civilization

  • George M. Bob-Milliar 4  
  • First Online: 23 November 2021

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This chapter aims to provide snapshots of Africa’s contributions to world civilization. Africans have contributed significantly to global history, however, much of it has been denied or suppressed by western gatekeepers. Africa’s precolonial history showed the existence of several civilizations. Western achievements in the fields of science and technology became a yardstick to measure civilization. Nevertheless, it is important to emphasize that world civilization is made up of the contributions of the civilizations of all human races. Indeed, through interactions, either peacefully (trade) or violently (wars of conquest) cultures, ideas of state-building and beliefs systems moved around the globe. This chapter discusses some of the intriguing contributions of Black Africans to world civilization in critical areas such as science and technology, education, arts and music, among others. In the areas of science, technology and innovation, Africans have made their mark. Africans continue to contribute to world civilizsation in the twenty-first century and beyond.

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Bob-Milliar, G.M. (2022). Africa’s Contributions to World Civilization. In: Oloruntoba, S.O., Falola, T. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Africa and the Changing Global Order. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77481-3_2

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What was the reason for the Almoravid’s attack on Ghana?

Introduction: the almoravid empire.

The Almoravid Empire was a Berber state that emerged in the 11th century in North Africa, specifically in modern-day Morocco. Its founders were a group of Islamic reformers, known as the Almoravids, who sought to revive the faith among the Berber tribes in the region. Through a combination of military conquest and religious preaching, they established an expansive empire that included most of North Africa, parts of Spain, and the western Sahara.

Ghana: An Islamic African Empire

Ghana was an Islamic African empire that existed from the 8th to the 13th century in what is now Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal. It was one of the most prosperous and influential states in West Africa, owing to its vast gold reserves and its strategic location on the trans-Saharan trade routes. Ghana was also a center of Islamic learning and culture, and its rulers were known for their patronage of scholars and artists.

Almoravid’s Expansion and the Sahara

The Almoravid’s expansion into the Sahara was driven by their desire to spread their reformist version of Islam to the nomadic Berber tribes in the region. The Sahara was a challenging environment for them, as its harsh conditions made it difficult to sustain large armies or settle in one place for long. However, the Almoravids were able to overcome these obstacles through their military prowess and their ability to forge alliances with local tribes.

The Political Context in West Africa

At the time of the Almoravid’s attack on Ghana, West Africa was divided into several smaller empires and city-states, each vying for power and influence. Ghana was one of the largest and wealthiest of these states, but it was also facing internal problems such as political instability and economic decline. This made it vulnerable to external threats, such as the Almoravid’s invasion.

The Linguistic and Cultural Divide

One of the major obstacles to cooperation between the Almoravids and the Ghanaian rulers was the linguistic and cultural divide between them. The Almoravids spoke a different language and had different customs and beliefs than the Ghanaian elites, who were largely Arabic-speaking and adherents of the Maliki school of Islamic law. This made it difficult for the two sides to communicate effectively and to find common ground.

The Religious Divide and Reformist Islam

Another factor that contributed to the Almoravid’s attack on Ghana was the religious divide between the two sides. The Almoravids were proponents of a reformist version of Islam, which emphasized strict adherence to the Qur’an and the Hadith, and rejected many of the popular practices and beliefs of the time. This put them at odds with the Ghanaian elites, who had a more syncretic approach to Islam and were more tolerant of other religious traditions.

The Pilgrimage and the Influence of the Maliki School

The Almoravids were inspired by the teachings of the Maliki school of Islamic law, which emphasized the importance of pilgrimage to Mecca as a means of strengthening one’s faith. Many Almoravid leaders, including their founder, Ibn Yasin, had made the pilgrimage to Mecca and had been influenced by the teachings of the Maliki scholars there. This gave them a strong sense of religious mission and a desire to spread their version of Islam to other parts of Africa.

The Almoravid’s Conquest of Morocco

Before their conquest of Ghana, the Almoravids had already established a powerful empire in North Africa, which included most of modern-day Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. This gave them a secure base from which to launch their expansion into the Sahara and West Africa.

Yusuf ibn Tashfin’s Ambitions in the South

Yusuf ibn Tashfin was one of the key figures in the Almoravid’s conquest of Ghana. He was a Berber chieftain who had risen to prominence in North Africa and had ambitions of extending the Almoravid Empire further south. He saw the Ghanaian empire as a potential target for conquest, both for its wealth and for its strategic location on the trans-Saharan trade routes.

The Battle of Audaghast

The Battle of Audaghast was a pivotal moment in the Almoravid’s campaign against Ghana. It took place in 1054 near the town of Audaghast, in modern-day Mauritania, and saw the Almoravid army defeat a Ghanaian force that had been sent to halt their advance. This victory gave the Almoravids a foothold in West Africa and allowed them to continue their expansion southward.

The Conquest of Aoudaghost and Ghana

Following their victory at Audaghast, the Almoravids were able to capture the important trading center of Aoudaghost, which further weakened Ghana’s position. In 1076, they launched a full-scale invasion of Ghana and were able to capture its capital city, Kumbi Saleh, after a long siege. This marked the end of the Ghana Empire and the beginning of the Almoravid’s dominance in West Africa.

The End of the Ghana Empire

The end of the Ghana Empire was a significant moment in African history, as it marked the decline of one of the most powerful and influential states on the continent. The Almoravid’s conquest of Ghana was a result of complex political, linguistic, and religious factors, but it was also a testament to their military power and their ability to adapt to the challenging environment of the Sahara.

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Aoudaghost , also transliterated as Awadaghust, Awdughast, Awdaghusht, Awdaghost, and Awdhaghurst (Arabic: أودغست ) is a former Berber town in Hodh El Gharbi , Mauritania . [1] It was an important oasis town at the southern end of a trans-Saharan caravan route that is mentioned in a number of early Arabic manuscripts. The archaeological ruins at Tegdaoust in southern Mauritania are thought to be the remains of the medieval town.

Arabic sources

The earliest mention of Aoudaghost is by al-Yaqubi in his Kitab al-Buldan completed in 889-890 in which he described the town as being controlled by a tribe of the Sanhaja and situated 50 stages south of Sijilmasa across the Sahara desert . [2] "It is the residence of their king who has no religion or law. He raids the land of the Sudan who have many kingdoms." From Ibn Hawqal writing in around 977 we learn that the distance from Aoudaghost to Ghana (presumably the capital of the Empire) was 10 days' journey for a lightly loaded caravan. [3] Ibn Hawqal wrote that the "king of Awdaghurst maintains relations with the ruler of Ghana" which suggests that at that time Aoudaghost was not part of the Ghana Empire . He also mentions the trade in gold and writes that the king of Ghana is very rich because of his stocks of gold but that the kings of Ghana and Kugha "stand in pressing need of [the goodwill of] the king of Awdaghust because of the salt which comes to them from the lands of Islam."

Then to Awdaghust which is a large town, populous and built on sandy ground, overlooked by a big mountain, completely barren and devoid of vegetation.  ... there is one cathedral mosque and many smaller ones ... Around the town are gardens with date palms. Wheat is grown there by digging with hoes, and it is watered with buckets ... Excellent cucumbers grow there, and there are a few small fig trees and some vines, as well as plantations of henna which produce a large crop ... [there are] wells with sweet water. Cattle and sheep are so numerous... Honey ... is abundant, brought from the land of the Sudan. The people of Awdaghust enjoy extensive benefits and huge wealth. The market there is at all times full of people... Their transactions are in gold, and they have no silver. Most of the inhabitants ... are natives of Ifriqiya [Tunisia] ... but there are also a few people from other countries ... [They own] slaves so numerous that one person from among them might possess a thousand servants or more.
In the year 1054-5 'Abd Allah b. Yasin invaded the town of Awdaghust, a flourishing locality, and a large town containing markets, numerous palms and henna trees. ... This town used to be the residence of the King of the Sudan who was called Ghana before the Arabs entered (the city of) Ghana... This (former) city was inhabited by Zenata together with Arabs who were always at loggerheads with each other. ... The Almoravids violated its women and declared everything that they took there to be booty of the community. ... The Almoravids persecuted the people of Awdaghust only because they recognized the authority of the ruler of Ghana.

It is unclear from this text how long prior to the arrival of the Almoravids the town had been part of the Ghana Empire. Al-Idrisi writing in Sicily in 1154 suggests that by the middle of the 12th century the town of Aoudaghost was in decline: "This is a small town in the desert, with little water. ... Its population is not numerous and there is no large trade. The inhabitants own camels from which they derive their livelihoods." By the beginning of the 13th century the oasis town of Oualata situated 360km (220miles) to the east had replaced Aoudaghost as the southern terminus of the major trans-Saharan caravan route.

Archaeology

The archaeological site of Tegdaoust forms an artificial mound or tell extending for 12 hectares. It lies south of the Hodh depression and 34km (21miles) northeast of the small town of Tamchakett . Excavations were carried out between 1960 and 1976 by a team of French archaeologists. The earliest layers date from the 7-9th centuries with the first mud-brick structures in the late 9th to early 10th centuries. Some stone buildings were constructed in the 11th century. The town appears to have been partly abandoned at the end of the 12th century and was completely abandoned by the 15th although there was some resettlement two centuries later.

The science fiction writer Bruce Sterling has dedicated a story to the town in his collection Crystal Express . The story "Dinner in Audoghast" recalls a dinner at a rich merchant's house that takes place at the height of the thriving metropolis's influence, about the year 1000 AD. The dinner is described wherein the guests discuss business and local affairs. They hear that a notorious fortuneteller is in town and they invite him to join them. He tells them their future, and that the city will be destroyed very soon, leaving the once thriving metropolis as only a marginal note in history. [4]

World Heritage Status

The archaeological site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on June 14, 2001 in the Cultural category.

  • . First published in 1981.

Further reading

  • . Page 483 contains a plan of the town.
  • . Reviewed in: .

External links

Notes and references.

  • Web site: Audaghost historical town, Africa . 2016-07-21.
  • Tegdaoust is 1660km (1,030miles) south of Sijilmasa so each stages would correspond to 33km (21miles).
  • . As Tegdaoust is 318km (198miles) north of Koumbi Saleh , the likely site of the Ghanaian capital, each stage would correspond to 32km (20miles).
  • http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/dinner-in-audoghast/ "Dinner in Audoghast"

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License . It uses material from the Wikipedia article " Aoudaghost ".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2023, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy .

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Aoudaghost , also transliterated as Awadaghust, Awdughast, Awdaghusht, Awdaghost, and Awdhaghurst (Arabic: أودغست ) is a former Berber town in Hodh El Gharbi, Mauritania. It was an important oasis town at the southern end of a trans-Saharan caravan route that is mentioned in a number of early Arabic manuscripts. The archaeological ruins at Tegdaoust in southern Mauritania are thought to be the remains of the medieval town.

Arabic sources

The earliest mention of Aoudaghost is by al-Yaqubi in his Kitab al-Buldan completed in 889-890 in which he described the town as being controlled by a tribe of the Sanhaja and situated 50 stages south of Sijilmasa across the Sahara desert. "It is the residence of their king who has no religion or law. He raids the land of the Sudan who have many kingdoms." From Ibn Hawqal writing in around 977 we learn that the distance from Aoudaghost to Ghana (presumably the capital of the Empire) was 10 days' journey for a lightly loaded caravan. Ibn Hawqal wrote that the "king of Awdaghurst maintains relations with the ruler of Ghana" which suggests that at that time Aoudaghost was not part of the Ghana Empire. He also mentions the trade in gold and writes that the king of Ghana is very rich because of his stocks of gold but that the kings of Ghana and Kugha "stand in pressing need of [the goodwill of] the king of Awdaghust because of the salt which comes to them from the lands of Islam."

The only detailed description that we have for the town is given by al-Bakri in his Book of Routes and Realms which was completed in 1068. Al-Bakri made use of earlier sources and it is likely that his description of Aoudaghost comes from the writings of Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Warraq (904-973) whose own account has not survived:

Then to Awdaghust which is a large town, populous and built on sandy ground, overlooked by a big mountain, completely barren and devoid of vegetation.  ... there is one cathedral mosque and many smaller ones ... Around the town are gardens with date palms. Wheat is grown there by digging with hoes, and it is watered with buckets ... Excellent cucumbers grow there, and there are a few small fig trees and some vines, as well as plantations of henna which produce a large crop ... [there are] wells with sweet water. Cattle and sheep are so numerous... Honey ... is abundant, brought from the land of the Sudan. The people of Awdaghust enjoy extensive benefits and huge wealth. The market there is at all times full of people... Their transactions are in gold, and they have no silver. Most of the inhabitants ... are natives of Ifriqiya [Tunisia] ... but there are also a few people from other countries ... [They own] slaves so numerous that one person from among them might possess a thousand servants or more.

Al-Bakri also describes the capture of the town by the Almoravids which had occurred just a few years before he wrote his account:

In the year 1054-5 'Abd Allah b. Yasin invaded the town of Awdaghust, a flourishing locality, and a large town containing markets, numerous palms and henna trees. ... This town used to be the residence of the King of the Sudan who was called Ghana before the Arabs entered (the city of) Ghana... This (former) city was inhabited by Zenata together with Arabs who were always at loggerheads with each other. ... The Almoravids violated its women and declared everything that they took there to be booty of the community. ... The Almoravids persecuted the people of Awdaghust only because they recognized the authority of the ruler of Ghana.

It is unclear from this text how long prior to the arrival of the Almoravids the town had been part of the Ghana Empire. Al-Idrisi writing in Sicily in 1154 suggests that by the middle of the 12th century the town of Aoudaghost was in decline: "This is a small town in the desert, with little water. ... Its population is not numerous and there is no large trade. The inhabitants own camels from which they derive their livelihoods." By the beginning of the 13th century the oasis town of Oualata situated 360 km (220 mi) to the east had replaced Aoudaghost as the southern terminus of the major trans-Saharan caravan route.

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Archaeology

The archaeological site of Tegdaoust forms an artificial mound or tell extending for 12 hectares. It lies south of the Hodh depression and 34 km (21 mi) northeast of the small town of Tamchakett. Excavations were carried out between 1960 and 1976 by a team of French archaeologists. The earliest layers date from the 7-9th centuries with the first mud-brick structures in the late 9th to early 10th centuries. Some stone buildings were constructed in the 11th century. The town appears to have been partly abandoned at the end of the 12th century and was completely abandoned by the 15th although there was some resettlement two centuries later.

The science fiction writer Bruce Sterling has dedicated a story to the town in his collection Crystal Express. The story "Dinner in Audoghast" recalls a dinner at a rich merchant's house that takes place at the height of the thriving metropolis's influence, about the year 1000 AD. The dinner is described wherein the guests discuss business and local affairs. They hear that a notorious fortuneteller is in town and they invite him to join them. He tells them their future, and that the city will be destroyed very soon, leaving the once thriving metropolis as only a marginal note in history.

World Heritage Status

The archaeological site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on June 14, 2001 in the Cultural category.

aoudaghost ghana

  • Levtzion, Nehemia (1973), Ancient Ghana and Mali , London: Methuen, ISBN  0-8419-0431-6 .
  • Levtzion, Nehemia; Hopkins, John F.P., eds. (2000), Corpus of Early Arabic Sources for West Africa , New York: Marcus Weiner Press, ISBN  1-55876-241-8 . First published in 1981.
  • McDougall, E. Ann (1985), "The view from Awdaghust: war, trade and social change in the southwestern Sahara, from the eighth to the fifteenth century", Journal of African History , Cambridge University Press, 26 (1): 1–31, doi:10.1017/S0021853700023069, JSTOR 181836 .
  • Robert, Denise S. (1970), "Les Fouilles de Tegdaoust", Journal of African History (in French), Cambridge University Press, 11 (4): 471–493, doi:10.1017/S0021853700010410, JSTOR 180917 .

Further reading

  • Devisse, Jean, ed. (1983), Tegdaoust III: Recherches sur Aoudaghost. Campagnes 1960/65, enquête générales (in French), Paris: Editions Researches sur les Civilisation, ISBN  2-86538-031-9 .
  • Mauny, Raymond (1961), Tableau géographique de l'ouest africain au moyen age, d’après les sources écrites, la tradition et l'archéologie (in French), Dakar: Institut français d'Afrique Noire, pp. 482–483 . Page 483 contains a plan of the town.
  • Polet, J. (1985), Tegdaoust IV: fouille d'un quartier de Tegdaoust (in French), Paris: Editions Recherche sur les Civilisations .
  • Robert, D.; Robert, S.; Devisse, J. (1970), Tegdaoust I: Researches sur Aoudaghost (in French), Paris: Arts et Métiers Graphiques .
  • Robert-Chaleix, Denise (1989), Tegdaoust V: une concession médiévale à Tegdaoust: implantation, évolution d'une unité d'habitation. (Memoire No. 82) (in French), Paris: Editions Recherche sur les Civilisations, ISBN  2-86538-196-X . Reviewed in: McIntosh, Susan Keech (1993), "Review of Tegdaoust V", Journal of African History , Cambridge University Press, 34 (2): 346–349, doi:10.1017/s0021853700033570, JSTOR 182451 .
  • Vanacker, C. (1979), Tegdaoust II: Recherches sur Aoudaghost. Fouille d'un quartier artisanal (in French), Paris: Arts et Métiers Graphiques .

External links

  • Map showing Tegdaoust: Fond Typographique Sheet NE-29-VIII 1:200,000 Tamchekket , République Islamique de Mauritanie, archived from the original on 2012-04-26 .

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Aoudaghost in English dictionary

Sample sentences with " aoudaghost ", available translations.

Aoudaghost (also transliterated as Awadaghust, Awdughast, Awdaghusht and Awdhaghurst) is a former Berber town in Hodh El Gharbi , Mauritania . [1] It was an important oasis town at the southern end of a trans-Saharan caravan route that is mentioned in a number of early Arabic manuscripts. The archaeological ruins at Tegdaoust in southern Mauritania are thought to be the remains of the medieval town.

Arabic sources

The earliest mention of Aoudaghost is by al-Yaqubi in his Kitab al-Buldan completed in 889-890 in which he described the town as being controlled by a tribe of the Sanhaja and situated 50 stages south of Sijilmasa across the Sahara desert . [2] "It is the residence of their king who has no religion or law. He raids the land of the Sudan who have many kingdoms." [3] From Ibn Hawqal writing in around 977 we learn that the distance from Aoudaghost to Ghana (presumably the capital of the Empire) was 10 days' journey for a lightly loaded caravan. [4] Ibn Hawqal wrote that the "king of Awdaghurst maintains relations with the ruler of Ghana" which suggests that at that time Aoudaghost was not part of the Ghana Empire . [5] He also mentions the trade in gold and writes that the king of Ghana is very rich because of his stocks of gold but that the kings of Ghana and Kugha "stand in pressing need of [the goodwill of] the king of Awdaghust because of the salt which comes to them from the lands of Islam." [5]

The only detailed description that we have for the town is given by al-Bakri in his Book of Routes and Realms which was completed in 1068. Al-Bakri made use of earlier sources and it is likely that his description of Aoudaghost comes from the writings of Muhammad b. Yusuf al-Warraq (904-973) whose own account has not survived: [6]

Then to Awdaghust which is a large town, populous and built on sandy ground, overlooked by a big mountain, completely barren and devoid of vegetation.   ... there is one cathedral mosque and many smaller ones   ... Around the town are gardens with date palms. Wheat is grown there by digging with hoes, and it is watered with buckets   ... Excellent cucumbers grow there, and there are a few small fig trees and some vines, as well as plantations of henna which produce a large crop   ... [there are] wells with sweet water. Cattle and sheep are so numerous... Honey   ... is abundant, brought from the land of the Sudan. The people of Awdaghust enjoy extensive benefits and huge wealth. The market there is at all times full of people... Their transactions are in gold, and they have no silver. Most of the inhabitants ... are natives of Ifriqiya [Tunisia]   ... but there are also a few people from other countries   ... [They own] slaves so numerous that one person from among them might possess a thousand servants or more. [7]

Al-Bakri also describes the capture of the town by the Almoravids which had occurred just a few years before he wrote his account:

In the year 1054-5 'Abd Allah b. Yasin invaded the town of Awdaghust, a flourishing locality, and a large town containing markets, numerous palms and henna trees.   ... This town used to be the residence of the King of the Sudan who was called Ghana before the Arabs entered (the city of) Ghana... This (former) city was inhabited by Zenata together with Arabs who were always at loggerheads with each other.   ... The Almoravids violated its women and declared everything that they took there to be booty of the community.   ... The Almoravids persecuted the people of Awdaghust only because they recognized the authority of the ruler of Ghana. [8]

It is unclear from this text how long prior to the arrival of the Almoravids the town had been part of the Ghana Empire. [9] Al-Idrisi writing in Sicily in 1154 suggests that by the middle of the 12th century the town of Aoudaghost was in decline: "This is a small town in the desert, with little water.   ... Its population is not numerous and there is no large trade. The inhabitants own camels from which they derive their livelihoods." [10] By the beginning of the 13th century the oasis town of Oualata situated 360   km (220   mi) to the east had replaced Aoudaghost as the southern terminus of the major trans-Saharan caravan route. [11]

Archaeology

The archaeological site of Tegdaoust forms an artificial mound or tell extending for 12 hectares. It lies south of the Hodh depression and 34   km (21   mi) northeast of the small town of Tamchakett. [12] Excavations were carried out between 1960 and 1976 by a team of French archaeologists. The earliest layers date from the 7-9th centuries with the first mud-brick structures in the late 9th to early 10th centuries. Some stone buildings were constructed in the 11th century. The town appears to have been partly abandoned at the end of the 12th century and was completely abandoned by the 15th although there was some resettlement two centuries later. [13]

The science fiction writer Bruce Sterling has dedicated a story to the town in his collection Crystal Express . The story "Dinner at Audoghast" recalls a dinner at a rich merchant's house that takes place at the height of the thriving metropolis about the year 1000 AD. The dinner is described where the guests discuss about their businesses and local affairs. They hear that a notorious fortuneteller is in town and they invite him to join them. He tells them their future and that of the city that it will be destroyed in the near future so that the once thriving metropolis is only a marginal note in history.

World Heritage Status

The archaeological site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on June 14, 2001 in the Cultural category. [14]

  • ↑ "Audaghost | historical town, Africa" . Retrieved 2016-07-21 .  
  • ↑ Tegdaoust is 1,660   km (1,030   mi) south of Sijilmasa so each stages would correspond to 33   km (21   mi) .
  • ↑ Levtzion & Hopkins 2000 , p.   22
  • ↑ Levtzion & Hopkins 2000 , p.   46 . As Tegdaoust is 318   km (198   mi) north of Koumbi Saleh , the likely site of the Ghanian capital, each stage would correspond to 32   km (20   mi) .
  • 1 2 Levtzion & Hopkins 2000 , p.   49
  • ↑ Levtzion & Hopkins 2000 , pp.   62, 384 note 14
  • ↑ Levtzion & Hopkins 2000 , p.   68
  • ↑ Levtzion & Hopkins 2000 , pp.   73–74
  • ↑ McDougall 1985 ; Levtzion & Hopkins 2000 , p.   385 notes 25 & 26
  • ↑ Levtzion & Hopkins 2000 , p.   118
  • ↑ Levtzion 1973 , p.   147
  • ↑ Robert 1970
  • ↑ McDougall 1985
  • ↑ Site archéologique de Tegdaoust , UNESCO World Heritage  
  • Levtzion, Nehemia (1973), Ancient Ghana and Mali , London: Methuen, ISBN   0-8419-0431-6   .
  • Levtzion, Nehemia; Hopkins, John F.P., eds. (2000), Corpus of Early Arabic Sources for West Africa , New York: Marcus Weiner Press, ISBN   1-55876-241-8   . First published in 1981.
  • McDougall, E. Ann (1985), "The view from Awdaghust: war, trade and social change in the southwestern Sahara, from the eighth to the fifteenth century", Journal of African History , Cambridge University Press, 26 (1): 1–31, doi : 10.1017/S0021853700023069 , JSTOR   181836   .
  • Robert, Denise S. (1970), "Les Fouilles de Tegdaoust", Journal of African History (in French), Cambridge University Press, 11 (4): 471–493, doi : 10.1017/S0021853700010410 , JSTOR   180917   .

Further reading

  • Devisse, Jean, ed. (1983), Tegdaoust III: Recherches sur Aoudaghost. Campagnes 1960/65, enquête générales (in French), Paris: Editions Researches sur les Civilisation, ISBN   2-86538-031-9   .
  • Mauny, Raymond (1961), Tableau géographique de l'ouest africain au moyen age, d’après les sources écrites, la tradition et l'archéologie (in French), Dakar: Institut français d'Afrique Noire, pp.   482–483   . Page 483 contains a plan of the town.
  • Polet, J. (1985), Tegdaoust IV: fouille d'un quartier de Tegdaoust (in French), Paris: Editions Recherche sur les Civilisations   .
  • Robert, D.; Robert, S.; Devisse, J. (1970), Tegdaoust I: Researches sur Aoudaghost (in French), Paris: Arts et Métiers Graphiques   .
  • Robert-Chaleix, Denise (1989), Tegdaoust V: une concession médiévale à Tegdaoust: implantation, évolution d'une unité d'habitation. (Memoire No. 82) (in French), Paris: Editions Recherche sur les Civilisations, ISBN   2-86538-196-X   . Reviewed in: McIntosh, Susan Keech (1993), "Review of Tegdaoust V", Journal of African History , Cambridge University Press, 34 (2): 346–349, doi : 10.1017/s0021853700033570 , JSTOR   182451   .
  • Vanacker, C. (1979), Tegdaoust II: Recherches sur Aoudaghost. Fouille d'un quartier artisanal (in French), Paris: Arts et Métiers Graphiques   .

External links

  • Map showing Tegdaoust: Fond Typographique Sheet NE-29-VIII 1:200,000 Tamchekket , République Islamique de Mauritanie   .

COMMENTS

  1. Aoudaghost

    Aoudaghost, also transliterated as Awadaghust, Awdughast, Awdaghusht, Awdaghost, and Awdhaghurst ( Arabic: أودغست) is a former Berber town in Hodh El Gharbi, Mauritania. [1] It was an important oasis town at the southern end of a trans-Saharan caravan route that is mentioned in a number of early Arabic manuscripts.

  2. Audaghost

    Audaghost was first an independent market town and later a tributary satellite of Ghana. It was captured from Ghana about 1054-55 by the Ṣanhajah wing of the Muslim Almoravid movement and thereafter declined in importance. Its location is not certain, but it probably occupied the site of what is now Tegdaoust, Mauritania.

  3. Aoudaghost, unveiling the lost economic hub of the Sahara

    Aoudaghost, at the border of the Hodh El Gharbi and Tagant regions, was one of the most important and thriving economic centers of the Medieval Sahara Desert, with Oualata and Ouadan.

  4. Aoudaghost

    Tamchakett A city of many empires Aoudaghost has its best days long behind it. To be more precise: Centuries behind it. But few cities can claim to have had such an eventful history as the former metropolis of the West African Ghana Empire (also: Wagadu). Center of the Trans-Sahara trade

  5. Aoudaghost

    Aoudaghost, également connue sous les noms d' Awdaghast, Awdaghust, Tegdaoust, Taghaost, Taghaoust, était une ville importante d' Afrique de l'Ouest qui se trouve aujourd'hui au sud-est de la Mauritanie, dans la région ( wilaya) de Hodh El Gharbi . Histoire

  6. Ancient Desert Cities

    Aoudaghost (or Awdaghust) was an important terminus in the trans-Saharan trade between the 8th and 12th centuries CE. Medieval Arab writers describe it as a flourishing, wealthy and well-known city. ... Kumbi Saleh was the capital of the Ghana empire, inhabited between the 4th and 13th centuries CE. The city, one of the largest in the Sahel ...

  7. The View from Awdaghust: War, Trade and Social Change in the

    9 Daveau and Toupet raised the question some years ago: 'Anciens terroirs Gangara', 210, 211. Recently, Munson, 'Archaeology', 462-463, has made an interesting argument in favour of this continuity with reference to the Soninke kingdom of Ghana, but the hiatus in the evidence (from c. 300 B.C. to c.A.D. 500-600) still speaks louder than superficial resemblances in architecture and ...

  8. Ancient Cities of the Wagadu Empire: Exploring Aoudaghost

    Ancient Cities of the Wagadu Empire: Exploring Aoudaghost. Posted on November 15, 2007 by Stardust. ... (Ghana) kingdom around the 8 th to 11 th centuries. This entry was posted in Africa, hiking, history, Mauritania, travel, will's research by Stardust. Bookmark the permalink. ...

  9. Aoudaghost

    Aoudaghost, also transliterated as Awadaghust, Awdughast, Awdaghusht, Awdaghost, and Awdhaghurst is a former Berber town in Hodh El Gharbi, Mauritania. It was an important oasis town at the southern end of a trans-Saharan caravan route that is mentioned in a number of early Arabic manuscripts. The archaeological ruins at Tegdaoust in southern Mauritania are thought to be the remains of the ...

  10. Aoudaghost

    3. Two. 2. One. 1. Your Rating. 3.8 average based on 17 reviews. Aoudaghost was an important oasis town at the southern end of a trans-Saharan caravan route that is mentioned in a number of early Arabic manuscripts. The archaeological ruins at Tegdaoust in southern Mauritania are thought to be the remains of the mediaeval town.

  11. Oualata

    Oualata or Walata ( Arabic: ولاتة) (also Biru in 17th century chronicles) [2] is a small oasis town in southeast Mauritania, located at the eastern end of the Aoukar basin. Oualata was important as a caravan city in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries as the southern terminus of a trans-Saharan trade route and now it is a World Heritage Site .

  12. About: Aoudaghost

    Aoudaghost, also transliterated as Awadaghust, Awdughast, Awdaghusht, Awdaghost, and Awdhaghurst (Arabic: أودغست) is a former Berber town in Hodh El Gharbi, Mauritania. ... prop del límit nord del regne de Ghana. Al segle x els sanhadja van conquerir part del regne de Ghana i va esdevenir la capital d'un estat poderós. El rei que hi ...

  13. Africa's Contributions to World Civilization

    The Berber town of Aoudaghost in Ancient Ghana was one of the important ports of exchange along the trans-Saharan route. 30 In the eastern part of Africa, the trading activities with Asia were a major factor in the emergence of such towns like Kilwa and Zanzibar that enjoyed such great prosperity and fame for over three centuries before the ...

  14. What was the reason for the Almoravid's attack on Ghana?

    The Almoravid's Conquest of Morocco Before their conquest of Ghana, the Almoravids had already established a powerful empire in North Africa, which included most of modern-day Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. This gave them a secure base from which to launch their expansion into the Sahara and West Africa. Yusuf ibn Tashfin's Ambitions in the South

  15. Aoudaghost Explained

    Aoudaghost, also transliterated as Awadaghust, Awdughast, Awdaghusht, Awdaghost, and Awdhaghurst (Arabic: أودغست) is a former Berbertown in Hodh El Gharbi, Mauritania.[1] It was an important oasis town at the southern end of a trans-Saharan caravan routethat is mentioned in a number of early Arabic manuscripts.

  16. PDF The Question of Ghana

    THE QUESTION OF GHANA R. A. MAUNY N recent years the question of Ghana has acquired new importance for two ... 5 marched on Aoudaghost, a rich country whose metropolis is very large and has several bazaars, a great number of date-palms, and henna-trees as big as olive-trees. It was the residence of a black king who bore the title of Ghana ...

  17. Audagast

    Audogost Aoudaghost Tegdaoust here: 17.4242N 10.4101W, in the wikipedia article: 17.25N 10.25 W In the 10th century Aoudaghoust was a very prosperous Berber kingdom and an important stage for caravans between Chinguetti Tomboctou. Under the influence of Ghana and later the Almoravids took from the 12th century. the importance of Aoudaghoust continuously. Today from the old town remained just a ...

  18. Aoudaghost

    From Ibn Hawqal writing in around 977 we learn that the distance from Aoudaghost to Ghana (presumably the capital of the Empire) was 10 days' journey for a lightly loaded caravan. Ibn Hawqal wrote that the "king of Awdaghurst maintains relations with the ruler of Ghana" which suggests that at that time Aoudaghost was not part of the Ghana Empire.

  19. Aoudaghost

    Aoudaghost Sample sentences with " Aoudaghost " Declension Stem Around 1050, Ghana lost Aoudaghost to the Almoravids, but new goldmines around Bure reduced trade through the city, instead benefiting the Malinke of the south, who later founded the Mali Empire. WikiMatrix

  20. The History of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai: Every Year: 200 BCE

    Next up on Project Africa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y73LiBpScDEPrevious video: https://youtu.be/lnoqlCV__z4Entire playlist: http://bit.ly/project-afri...

  21. The History of One of the Earliest Empires in Africa

    The Ghana Empire, properly known as Wagadou, was a West African empire located in the area of present-day southeastern Mauritania and western Mali.In this vi...

  22. Aoudaghost

    On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Go to top.

  23. Aoudaghost

    Aoudaghost (also transliterated as Awadaghust, Awdughast, Awdaghusht and Awdhaghurst) is a former Berber town in Hodh El Gharbi, Mauritania. [1] It was an important oasis town at the southern end of a trans-Saharan caravan route that is mentioned in a number of early Arabic manuscripts. The archaeological ruins at Tegdaoust in southern Mauritania are thought to be the remains of the medieval town.