CLASS OVERVIEW

It discusses Mansa Musa’s reign, the trade of gold, salt, and other goods, and the influence of Islam on governance and education. It also highlights Timbuktu’s rise as a center of scholarship and the lasting legacy of Mali’s wealth and power in African and global history.

BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:

• Please check the materials that go with this lesson and print relevant materials.

• Also, check out the books and products the teachers use for further learning.

• Reach out to support@urbanintellectuals.com if you have any questions or issues.

• Some links may be affiliate links where we may earn a small commission from purchases.

World Changer/Teacher: Dr. John Aden

Sources: 

Sources information and links cited for this class can be found within the Google Slides Presentation below.

Quizzes are not applicable in this class.

Dr. John’s Class #21 Google Slide Presentation Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1otEN7bDKINzjoOFNZZeBpc58lJf2rwHiOskNbKViNYs/edit?usp=drivesdk

CLASS OVERVIEW

Ghana didn’t fall—it transformed, and its legacy still runs through our veins today.

Class 20: Ghana Empire – Power, Culture & The Fall They Don’t Want You to Understand

If you thought Part 1 was heavy, wait ‘til you feel the weight of truth in this one. Dr. Aden takes us deeper into the brilliance of the Ghana Empire—where Muslim traders, traditional spirituality, and African diplomacy coexisted and thrived. We learn how Ghana’s kings managed power, how griots shaped legacy, and how women held real influence in royal succession.

And yes—we confront the fall too. Not with shame, but with clarity. Climate change, shifting trade routes, outside invasions—it wasn’t weakness, it was the world changing around them. This class is a masterclass in legacy, reminding us that even when empires fall, our greatness echoes through time. Ghana walked so Mali, Songhai, and Wakanda could run.

BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:

• Please check the materials that go with this lesson and print relevant materials.

• Also, check out the books and products the teachers use for further learning.

• Reach out to support@urbanintellectuals.com if you have any questions or issues.

• Some links may be affiliate links where we may earn a small commission from purchases.

World Changer/Teacher: Dr. John Aden

Sources: 

Sources information and links cited for this class can be found within the Google Slides Presentation below.

Quizzes are not applicable in this class.

Dr. John’s Class #20 Google Slide Presentation Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UxIMhc02aEtxZZ04bAlMlDc0q4UFCBgDNh5y3KKMMXQ/edit?slide=id.g349286b23de_0_5#slide=id.g349286b23de_0_5

These Google Slides contain the slide for two classes, Class 19: History of the Ghana Empire (Part 1) – Dr. Aden and Class 20: History of the Ghana Empire (Part 2) – Dr. Aden.

CLASS OVERVIEW

Before Europe had castles, Ghana had kings, gold, and game-changing greatness—learn the truth they never taught us in school.

Class 19: Ghana Empire – The Original Gold Standard

Before the world even knew what “rich” looked like, the Ghana Empire was already making it happen. In this eye-opening class, we peel back the lies of the miseducation system and dive into how Africans built wealth, power, and purpose—centuries before Europe could catch up. Dr. Aden breaks it down—how gold and salt made Ghana the envy of the world, how Black leadership ran sophisticated governments, and how our stories were passed down not in books—but in rhythm, in song, and in truth.

This ain’t just history—it’s a reminder of who we already were before they tried to tell us who we’re not.

BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:

• Please check the materials that go with this lesson and print relevant materials.

• Also, check out the books and products the teachers use for further learning.

• Reach out to support@urbanintellectuals.com if you have any questions or issues.

• Some links may be affiliate links where we may earn a small commission from purchases.

World Changer/Teacher: Dr. John Aden

Sources: 

Sources information and links cited for this class can be found within the Google Slides Presentation below.

Quizzes are not applicable in this class.

Dr. John’s Class #19 Google Slide Presentation Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UxIMhc02aEtxZZ04bAlMlDc0q4UFCBgDNh5y3KKMMXQ/edit?slide=id.g349286b23de_0_5#slide=id.g349286b23de_0_5

These Google Slides contain the slide for two classes, Class 19: History of the Ghana Empire (Part 1) – Dr. Aden and Class 20: History of the Ghana Empire (Part 2) – Dr. Aden.

CLASS OVERVIEW

Focusing on labor systems and enslavement in pre-colonial West Africa. It explores the Mande social hierarchy, different forms of servitude, and the cultural, legal, and moral frameworks that shaped these systems before European colonization.

BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:

• Please check the materials that go with this lesson and print relevant materials.

• Also, check out the books and products the teachers use for further learning.

• Reach out to support@urbanintellectuals.com if you have any questions or issues.

• Some links may be affiliate links where we may earn a small commission from purchases.

World Changer/Teacher: Dr. John Aden

Sources: 

Sources information and links cited for this class can be found within the Google Slides Presentation below.

Quizzes are not applicable in this class.

Dr. John’s Class #18 Google Slide Presentation Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-KJPcEXo5zveT6CkykaDVSJGP7lbwHvYho0mYyoebeY/edit?slide=id.p#slide=id.p

These Google Slides contain the slides for two classes, Class 17: West African History: Social Structures Part II – Dr. Aden and Class 18: West African History: Social Structures Part III – Dr. Aden.

CLASS OVERVIEW

Discusses topics such as social structures, blacksmith and griot traditions, oral epics like the Sunjata Epic, the influence of West African music, and the historical role of artisans, potters, and leatherworkers. The lecture connects ancient cultural practices to modern African and African American heritage, illustrating the continuity of linguistic, artistic, and spiritual traditions across the African diaspora.

BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:

• Please check the materials that go with this lesson and print relevant materials.

• Also, check out the books and products the teachers use for further learning.

• Reach out to support@urbanintellectuals.com if you have any questions or issues.

• Some links may be affiliate links where we may earn a small commission from purchases.

World Changer/Teacher: Dr. John Aden

Sources: 

Sources information and links cited for this class can be found within the Google Slides Presentation below.

Quizzes are not applicable in this class.

Dr. John’s Class #17 Google Slide Presentation Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-KJPcEXo5zveT6CkykaDVSJGP7lbwHvYho0mYyoebeY/edit?slide=id.p#slide=id.p

These Google Slides contain the slides for two classes, Class 17: West African History: Social Structures Part II – Dr. Aden and Class 18: West African History: Social Structures Part III – Dr. Aden.

CLASS OVERVIEW

Discusses geography, social systems, and cultural traditions of West Africa—covering topics like the tripartite caste system (nobles, artisans, and enslaved persons), blacksmithing, griot oral traditions, and the Sunjata Epic. The session also touches on colonial influence, Islamic expansion, and modern geopolitical issues in the Sahel, blending historical insight with contemporary relevance.

BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:

• Please check the materials that go with this lesson and print relevant materials.

• Also, check out the books and products the teachers use for further learning.

• Reach out to support@urbanintellectuals.com if you have any questions or issues.

• Some links may be affiliate links where we may earn a small commission from purchases.

World Changer/Teacher: Dr. John Aden

Sources: 

Sources information and links cited for this class can be found within the Google Slides Presentation below.

Quizzes are not applicable in this class.

Dr. John’s Class #16 Google Slide Presentation Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1egi3IpjFXpvn20gT8pDazFe2gVJGJfgVaY__o5BHJ_0/edit#slide=id.p