Following the Gold Road: Global Medieval Africa in the Time of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai: with Michael Gomez and Madina Thiam

The Gold Road is a three-part lecture series that explores the medieval West African empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai (6th–16th centuries). This series is for K-12 educators and all of those who are curious to see the ways in which West Africa has shaped the modern world. The program reframes global medieval history by centering Africa’s essential role in the world economy through its prized resource—gold—and by spotlighting its contributions to art, architecture, learning, and governance. This session with Dr. Michael Gomez and Dr. Madina Thiam will focus on: Geography, Technology, and Governance Abstract: West African societies harnessed key geographic features—such as the Niger River and Saharan trade routes—and innovations like iron smelting and gold mining to build powerful and enduring states. Dr. Gomez’s distinguished scholarship on African political thought and state formation will help illuminate how geography and technology shaped enduring traditions of leadership and governance across West Africa. FEATURING: Dr. Michael Gomez, Silver Professor; Professor of History and Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies and Founder, Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora (ASWAD) Dr. Madina Thiam, Fannie Gaston-Johansson Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and History, Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Hosted by the Africa America Institute in partnership with the Boston University African Studies Center and the Howard University Center for African Studies.