What was the source of wealth in West Africa?

What was the source of wealth in West Africa?

Mansa Musa inherited a kingdom that was already wealthy, but his work in expanding trade made Mali the wealthiest kingdom in Africa. His riches came from mining significant salt and gold deposits in the Mali kingdom. Elephant ivory was another major source of wealth.

What were the primary sources of wealth in West Africa?

Gold and salt were the largest part of West African economies. Slavery was another part of those economies. Many societies in Africa who were ruled by kings kept slaves. Slaves were seen as a symbol of power and wealth.

What was the main source of the wealth and power of all the West African empires?

Caravan trade contributed MOST to the growth and power of the West African empires of Ghana and Mali. The gold-salt trade in Africa made Ghana a powerful empire because they controlled the trade routes and taxed traders.

How did the West African kingdoms become wealthy?

In Western Africa, three kingdoms became wealthy beyond belief by controlling important stops along the trans-Saharan trade routes. The kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai mined an abundance of gold, which was in high demand in North Africa and the southern Mediterranean coast of Europe.

Why were the trade goods of salt and gold so essential for the West African empires to rise and survive?

People wanted gold for its beauty, but they needed salt in their diets to survive. Salt, which could be used to preserve food, also made bland food tasty. In fact, Africans sometimes cut up slabs of salt and used the pieces as money. As trade in gold and salt increased, Ghana’s rulers gained power.

What did the people of West Africa trade with?

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.

What did Ghana have to do with trade?

Ghana was located between two areas that wanted to trade—North Africa and West Africa. Traders from North Africa crossed the Sahara with salt, copper, and cowrie shells—a type of seashell that was used as money.

What was trade goods from the Songhai Empire?

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.

What was traded in the salt trade in Africa?

When the caravans arrived at a trading centre or major settlement in the Sudan region, the salt was exchanged for goods to carry back across the desert on the return journey; typically such loads included gold, leather, animal skins, and ivory.