Ghana Kingdom
Definition
The Ghana Kingdom, also known as Wagadou, was a powerful West African state that existed from around 300 to 1200 CE. It was rich in gold and controlled important trade routes across the Sahara Desert.
Analogy
Think of the Ghana Kingdom like a major airport hub today. Just as airports control the flow of people and goods between different locations, the Ghana Kingdom controlled the flow of trade (especially gold and salt) across the Sahara.
Related terms
Sahara Trade Routes: These were paths through the desert used for trading goods like gold, salt, ivory, and slaves between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.
Trans-Saharan Trade: This refers to the trade across the Sahara Desert between Mediterranean countries and sub-Saharan Africa.
Gold-Salt Trade: This was a crucial part of trans-Saharan commerce where West African kingdoms like Ghana traded their abundant gold for salt from North Africa.
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