Support African Elements via Patreon; https://www.patreon.com/africanelements *Ad Free Videos for as little as $1/Month Subscription!!* Africa was riding high before colonialism, so how did the history of Africa take such a dramatic turn from the wealthy empires of Egypt, Ghana, Mali, and Songhai to the Atlantic slave trade and the colonial era? Key events in history of Africa before colonialism help to explain the rise and fall of the continent. Related: What Is Africana Studies? (Full Episode); https://youtu.be/FTaAyaicMLo Why African Culture Matters: A Survival Toolkit; https://youtu.be/NIIgcrarzZo "Person Of The Year For 1324" https://www.forbesafrica.com/extreme-execs/2015/02/01/person-year-1324/ Table of Contents: 01:01 - Intro 03:11 - Egypt and World Trade 03:44 - Greece and Rome in North Africa 05:38 - Islamic Expansion 06:28 - West Africa's Rise: Ghana Mali & Songhai 09:15 - West Africa's Demise 13:32 - Question of the Day