The Asante people belonged to the Akan state of Ghana and had its capital at Kumasi.  At the peak of its power, the empire comprised modern Ghana, part of Togo and Ivory coast.

Most of the institutions of Asante empire were given to them by three famous leaders; Obiri Yeboa, Osei Tutu and Epuku Ware.

The Asante originally inhabited the area around L. Bosomtwi.  The country side the Asante settled in was called Amanse meaning the beginning of nations.  They eventually built a town on the 17th century called Asante manso.  Hence fourth, the Asante were identified with this name.

However, Asante's glory and prosperity was also attributed to its prosperous agriculture and the selling of gold and kola nuts especially the  merchants from the North and the coast.  The Asante were faced with one major problem, the oppressive rule of the Denkyira. They were forced to pay annual tributes to the chief of Denkyira.  The Asante were also denied direct access to trade with the Europeans at the coast.

In response to the above, the problems Obiri Yeboa led the Asante to form a loose military alliance of the Asante states.  Unfortunately he was killed in one of the battles against the Doma.  His nephew Osei Tutu succeeded him.  He formed a union of the Asante states started by his uncle Obiri Yeboa.  In fact by the middle of the 18th century Asante was at the peak of its power and the prosperity dominating the whole of  modern Ghana. 

REASONS FOR THE RISE AND EXPANSION

Common hatred against the Denkyira: Originally Asante was a province of Dendkyiira whose rule was very oppressive and tyrannical.  The Asante could no longer stand this kind of situation.

The desire for the Asante to trade:  The denkyira denied the Asante the chance to directly trade with the Europeans at the coast.  This forced the Asante to come together and formed the Asante union to fight the Denkyira.

Kumasi was a centre of trade:  Different trade routes converged at kumasi eg, the trade routes from Hausa land and Mende and others from the South all went through Kumasi.  Therefore Kumasi became a centre of trading activities in the region.

A source of commodities of trade:  Gold and kola nuts naturally attracted immigrants and merchants.  These items increased the strength, revenue and population if Asante.

Introduction of guns and gun powder:  The possession of these modern weapons of the town from 1650 onwards created an overwhelming advantage to Asante over its neighbor.  Asante was militarily strong. In fact this helped it to regain its  independence as well as conquering other neighbouring states.

The oyako clan: The arrival of this clan considered itself to have come from a single family or lineage and treated each other as a bother and sister.  Therefore instead of competing among themselves as other states were doing .  The oyoko states cooperated and united.

Strong and able leaders:  Obiri Yeboa the founder of the empire was a forward looking man.  Osei Tutu was a reputed empire builder while Opuku Ware was a warrior.  It was the guidance, wisdom and strength of these three leaders that Asante empire expanded.

The Trans-Atlantic trade:  By the id 16th century and the beginning of the 17t century, there was increased demand for slaves in America.  These were to work in the sugar and cotton plantations and the gold mines.  The Asante generated a big revenue from the trade.

The golden stool:  The people of Asante were united by the golden stool which was established by Osei Tutu and Okomfo Anokye the chief priest.  It was a symbol of strength and unity. The stool was an important instrument of bringing the people together.

OSEI TUTU 1697 - 1717.     

He was regarded as the greatest king of the Asante.  He was a nephew of Obiri Yeboah.  He ruled Asante from 1697-1717.

Traditions have it that Manu Kutosii the sister of Obiri Yeboah was childless for many years. He therefore consulted a reknown medicine man or priest known as Tutu Abanu. She was given local medicine which enabled her to produce Osei Tutu.

He grew up at the courts but after having a love affair with the Denkyirahenes' sister, he fled for his dear life to Akwamu.  He remained there until the death of Obiri Yeboa .  His reign was a turning point in Asante's history.

With the assistance of the chief priest Okomfo Anokye , Osei Tutu turned a loose temporality loose alliance of the Asante states into a permanent lasting political union of Asante.  He was able to succeed because he played on the common hatred between the Denkyira and Asante.

Tutu also initiated the idea of the golden stool.  He was assisted by Okomfo Anokye.  The priest calls the stool to descend from heaven amidst darkness and thunder to the knee of Osei tutu.  Anokye announced that the stool contained the spirit of the whole Asante nation. The stool a symbol of strength unity and survival of the empire. To this day it has remained the symbol of the unity of the Asante people.

Osei tutu also introduced the Asante annual festival called the odwira.  This was a festival that was celebrated every year.  It brought together all representatives of the Asante states which formed the Asante union at this festival prayers were conducted for the entire nation, disputes among the chiefs would be settled and plans for the future would be laid down.

Osei tutu also made a constitution of the Asante union.  The Asantehene was to be the head of the Asante union and also be in control of Kumasi.  He was assisted by the Amahenes (chiefs who were the heads  of the component states.  However these recognised  the Asantehene as their leader and it was a must they had to attend annual festival known as the Odwira and also take an oath of allegiance to the Asantehene.

He also paid due attention to the military organisation of the Asante.  The army of the Asante had four wings:  the vanguard, front, the rear(behind) the left and right wings.  This square formation of fighting was later adopted by many states.  The army played a leading role in the expansion and maintenance of the law and order. 

Osei Tutu also established a capital at Kumasi for the Asante union.  But  both magic and diplomacy Osei Tutu convinced the people of Oyo to accept Kumasi as the capital.

He introduced a system of inheritance to the throne by convincing the members that the Asantehene was to come from the line of Yeboah and Osei Tutu.

In foreign affairs Osei succeeded in defeating his immediate members the Adoma.  He did this to avenge for the death of his uncle Ebiri Yeboah.  He defeated the Doma first in 1699 and 1707 at the famous battle of Feyiase.  It is this battle that brought Asante dramatically to the attention of the Europeans at the coast.

POLITICAL ORGANISATION STRUCTURE OF ASANTE EMPIRE

Asante had a centralized government headed bay a king, he had he had a title of the Asantehene.  He was also the political and religious head of the empire.

Asante consisted of two parts each with its administration, the metropolitan and the provincial Asante.

Metropolitan Asante consisted of states in a radius of 30-40 miles around Kumasi the capital of Asante.  The areas were directly under the Asantehene.

 Provincial Asante consisted of conquered states known as Amans.  Each Aman/ state was headed by the Amahene.  He enjoyed a large measure of internal autonomy but he had to recognise the Asantehene as the head of the Asante union.  He also attended the Odwira festival and also took the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene.

Asante had a well organised army whose commander-in chief was the Asantehene.  The army had four wings and each was assigned to the Asantehene of chief.  Every able bodied man had to serve on the army.  The army expanded the empire, defended the empire against foreign aggression and maintained law and order.

Social Organisation

Asante was an integrated state with the Asantehene as a semi divine king.  The people of Asante were brought together by the golden stool.  It was a symbol of unity, strength their soul and survival

The people of Asante were also brought together by the annual festival called the Odwira.  This was attended by all the Amahenes and other important persons in the kingdom. It was a major event on the calendar of the Asante.  It is here that prayers were offered, misunderstandings resolved and plans made for the coming season.

Economic organisation

The economy was based on agriculture. The empire was located in fertile regions which favoured farming.  The Asante grew crops for both home  consumption and export.  These crops include; cocoa, palm oil, Ground nuts, kola nuts and cereal crops.

The Asante were also traders.  This was blessed by the fact that the trade routes went through or ended up in Kumasi.

`Therefore Asante was able to play role in the coastal trade.  The major commodities sold to the European merchants at the coast were slaves, ivory, kola nuts and gold.  These were a major source of income for the people of Asante.  In exchange the Asante got fire arms, cloth and luxurious goods like beads, perfumes, mirrors etc.

Asante also derived a lot of revenue in taxes from local markets and tributes from the vassal states. They also imposed taxes in goods passing through Asante empire.

Asante was also good in the art and craft industry.  They produced many works of art and of better quality for example gold or ornaments , bells rings etc.

The empire also depended on its famous gold mines.  Asante produced a lot of gold that it came to be known as the Gold country by the European countries.  It was also referred to as the Gold coast(Ghana).  All he above sources assured the Asante empire of a huge revenue thus its strength and glory.

THE DECLINE OF ASANTE EMPIRE

Weakness in the system of administration:  The tributary states were left with a lot of freedom and internal autonomy for example they had their army and government. This encouraged them to organize rebellions against the central government.

Weakness in the army:  The army which was instrumental in the expansion ad maintaining  the empire declined due to numerous civil wars and conflicts between  the Asante and Fante, the Asante and the Denkire and the Asante and the British.

Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic trade: Its abolition denied Asante empire one of its important export and source of income, slave trade.  This greatly weakened the empire economically.

The policy of absorbing conquered states:  The administration of the provincial Asante was weakened mainly because of control over the coastal states would hinder the British trade for this reason that they destroyed Asante which stood in their way of exploiting West Africa.

Control of Port Elmina: The British desire to control this port was another source of conflict.  For a long time Port Elmina was under the control of Asante.  The Asante-British was of 1869and 1870 were aiming at prevailing the port from falling into the arms of the British.

The British attempt to stop slave trade:  From 1772 onwards the British government assumed the role of abolishing slave trade.  Asante  was at he centre of this trade and slaves were an important source of revenue.  This too caused the conflicts.

The British arrogance: The British refused to acknowledge the significance of the golden stool.  They demanded that the stool be given t them.  The Asante refused since this was a symbol of their unity, strength, soul, and  survival . In fact the Asante were provoked.

The British were opposed to Asante's sovereignty or independence. British feared to allow a powerful state like Asante to establish firm control over the coastal states.  In fact they tried to achieve this by mediation but later they used force as and alternative means.

British desire to spread Christianity and western education:  These interests would not be achieved as long as Asante empire remained strong.  Asante stood in the interests of the British since it created political instability through civil wars thus creating a situation that did not favour missionary activities.

The Asante-Samouri treaty:  the Asante signed a treaty of friend ship with Samouri Toure of the Mandinka empire. The British were not happy with this alliance and were determined to forestall (bring an end) a possible African grand alliance against European colonialism.

Another reason for the British-Asante conflict was the failure of the British to hand over a refuge from Asante. The British encouraged the rebellious Asante subjects to take refuge in the coastal areas and even refused to hand them over to the Asante e.g. in 1863 governor pine refused to hand over a refuge Kwasi Gyani who had escaped from Asante justice in Kumasi.  This situation prompted the Asante to declare war on the British.

Asante always attacked the rebellious coastal states of Fante, Denkyira and Waisa.  This also caused friction and conflicts between the British and African.  In fact it urged that the British motivated and influenced these coastal states to rebel.

Imperialistic reasons:  The last Anglo Asante was of the Anglo- African of 1874 and 1901 were fought for imperialistic reasons. The British wanted to colonise the whole of Asante for example in 1874, the southern states of Asante became a British protectorate and in 1901 the Northern states of Asante was annexed by the British thus becoming the gold coast.