Kingdom of Ghana

The Kingdom of Ghana, which existed from around the 6th to the 13th century in West Africa, was a powerful empire known for its wealth and trade, particularly in gold and salt. Centered in what is today southeastern Mauritania and western Mali, it controlled key trade routes across the Sahara Desert. The kingdom was a cultural and political center, with a complex social system and a strong military. Its prosperity attracted traders from across Africa and beyond, contributing to the spread of Islam and influencing regional history until it declined due to internal strife and external pressures from neighboring empires.