ABSTRACT
History continues to reveal that Africa's past was garnished with stimulating accounts of important empires that ruled over many vassal states and territories. These empires were organized and maintained through the creation of economic, political, and social institutions that were grounded in their own values and philosophies. Historical, sociological, anthropological, and other forms of research have verified the existence and strength of West African empires in influencing the politics, economies, and societies of the region. This chapter examines the key features of many of these empires to provide an understanding of their rise and fall and their historical relevance. As empires illustrate the existence of precolonial African history, and serve as the foundations of cultural and ethnic boundaries that remain on the continent, it is essential that they are recognized to contradict perceptions of Africans as lacking in the ability to create long-lasting institutions.
