WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -North African traders were major actors in introducing Islam into West Africa. Several major trade routes connected Africa below the Sahara with the Mediterranean Middle East, such as Sijilmasa to Awdaghust and Ghadames to Gao.

Detailed explanation-2: -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-3: -A succession of three great kingdoms came to power as their people, gained control of valuable trade routes in West Africa. Ghana was the first of these empires, followed by the kingdoms of Mali and Songhai. Historians think the first people in Ghana were farmers along the Niger River.

Detailed explanation-4: -The gateway to this African kingdom was the port city of Adulis, the main trading post of Aksum. Located on the Red Sea, Traders came from Egypt, the Middle East, and India. Greek, Roman and Persians followed with an eagerness to acquire the luxury goods that had captured the attention of Egyptian pharaohs.

Detailed explanation-5: -Ghana, first of the great medieval trading empires of western Africa (fl. 7th–13th century). It was situated between the Sahara and the headwaters of the Sénégal and Niger rivers, in an area that now comprises southeastern Mauritania and part of Mali.