7. The Songhai Empire - Africa's Age of Gold
Fall of Civilizations Podcast
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The Origins of the African Gold Rush
The majority of west africa's gold wasn't dug out of a mine, but pan on the banks of the senegal and niger rivers. Gold usually occurs in fleks and nuggets found within quartz crystals. The extremely variable climate of the region also helped this industry. During the long dry season, when all plant life died and agriculture was impossible, many farmers would go prospecting for gold instead.
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