It was Songhay
African Kingdoms gained wealth and power by controlling the trade in gold and salt.
African Kingdoms gained wealth and power by controlling the trade in gold and salt.
The main sources of wealth and power of all the West African empires was the armies they built whose superior iron weapons let them take control of the trade in salt and gold.
The African kingdom known as the "Land of the Blacks and Gold" is the Kingdom of Ghana. This ancient empire, which thrived from the 6th to the 13th century, was located in what is now southeastern Mauritania and western Mali. It gained this nickname due to its wealth derived from abundant gold resources and its dominant trade in gold and salt. The kingdom played a crucial role in the trans-Saharan trade routes, facilitating commerce between West Africa and the Mediterranean.
Mali and Ghana gained there wealth by trading good such as salt and gold
The West African source of gold was primarily located in the regions of the Sahel, particularly in what is now modern-day Mali and Ghana. The famous Ghana Empire, along with the Mali Empire, was known for its rich gold mines, particularly in places like Bambuk and Bure. These areas became central to trade routes and contributed significantly to the wealth and power of the empires in the region.
Early empires gained wealth and power by trading slaves, gold, and ivory.
Early empires gained wealth and power by trading slaves, gold, and ivory.
Gold was not a source of wealth for Ghana's rulers; instead, it was the trade in salt that significantly contributed to their wealth. Salt was highly valued for preservation and nutrition, and the trans-Saharan trade routes facilitated its exchange for gold and other goods. Additionally, the rulers of Ghana gained wealth through taxation on trade and control of trade routes. This economic system ultimately established Ghana as a powerful empire in West Africa.
The first West African kingdom based on wealth from trade was the Ghana Empire. Flourishing between the 6th and 13th centuries, it became a powerful state due to its control over trans-Saharan trade routes, particularly in gold and salt. The empire's prosperity attracted traders and influenced the development of subsequent kingdoms in the region, such as Mali and Songhai.
Wealth, power and a world empire.
Salt and Gold