Final answer:
A strong central authority in African kingdoms greatly benefited trade, military organization, and political stability, allowing these kingdoms to prosper, expand, and maintain internal order. However, after the decline of central powers, African societies struggled to resist external influences such as European colonization and the slave trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
A strong central authority provided multiple benefits to African kingdoms, particularly in terms of trade, military organization, and political stability. The medieval African kingdoms, such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, were known for their prospering trade, due in part to their control of the trans-Saharan trade routes. These routes enabled the trade of gold, salt, and slaves, which were critical to these kingdoms' economies.
Moreover, a centralized state, like the West African chiefdom of Asante, could muster a powerful military force. Under strong leadership, the Asantehene united chiefs in a military confederation, enabling them to collect tribute and expand through conquest. A strong central authority also had the power to enact laws and to maintain social order within its territories, creating a stable environment for economic and cultural development.
In contrast, the lack of a central power often led to fragmentation and made it more difficult to resist external pressures, such as the increasing European involvement in the slave trade. Centralized states, like Benin, attempted to regulate this trade, but with varied success. Overall, a strong central authority bolstered African kingdoms by providing stability, promoting prosperity through trade, and effectively coordinating defensive and offensive military strategies.