WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Ghana’s rulers gained incredible wealth from trade, taxes on traders and on the people of Ghana, and their own personal stores of gold. They used their wealth to build an army and an empire. Extensive trade routes brought the people of Ghana into contact with people of many different cultures and beliefs.

Detailed explanation-2: -Indeed, Ghanaian kings taxed the traders both on the goods they brought into West Africa and those they took out. In addition, the goods they traded for their gold-things like salt, horses, and cloth-were sorely needed in the area and made the Ghanaians the biggest political and economic force in the region.

Detailed explanation-3: -What did they trade? The main items traded were gold and salt. The gold mines of West Africa provided great wealth to West African Empires such as Ghana and Mali. Other items that were commonly traded included ivory, kola nuts, cloth, slaves, metal goods, and beads.

Detailed explanation-4: -Like Ghana, Mali lay along the upper Niger River. This area’s fertile soil helped Mali grow. In addition, Mali’s location on the Niger allowed its people to control trade on the river. Through this control of trade, the empire grew rich and powerful.

Detailed explanation-5: -The eastern trans-Saharan route led to the development of the long-lived Kanem–Bornu Empire as well as the Ghana, Mali, and Songhai empires, centred on the Lake Chad area.