How did the Ghana Empire get so rich?

The Ghana Empire in particular grew rich from the trade across the Sahara. It certainly helped that the Empire had control of the three large goldfields south of them. As such, Ghana was referred to by traders as the "Land of Gold", and the kings of Ghana were sometimes called the "Lords of Gold".

What was the kingdom of Ghana known for?

The Ghana Empire, also called the Kingdom of Ghana, enjoyed considerable power from the ninth century to the 11th century AD. Kings and rulers discovered significant gold deposits in the lands of the kingdom, such as Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal, and the newfound wealth helped rulers establish a powerful,…

What caused the fall of the Ghana Empire?

Feeling deprived of his victim, Bida took revenge on the region and a terrible drought gripped Ghana and gold mining began to decline. Since gold mining began to decline, so did trade, and Ghana was finished as other empires took over. Sources: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/history/ancient_ghana.php

Why was Ghana called the land of gold?

As such, Ghana was referred to by traders as the "Land of Gold", and the kings of Ghana were sometimes called the "Lords of Gold". As a result, the empire flourished. The King of Ghana had a monopoly on all gold nuggets found in the mines.

How did Ghana's gold-salt trade work?

How did Ghana's gold-salt trade work? Merchants met in trading towns where they exchanged goods under the watchful eye of the king's tax collector. Royal officials also ensured that all traders weighed goods fairly and acted according to the law. Royal guards also provided protection against bandits.

What was the role of the King of Ghana?

The King of Ghana had a monopoly on all gold nuggets found in the mines. The people were allowed to trade in gold dust, but had to hand over any gold nuggets to the government. As such, the state also became very powerful, adding to the complexity of Ghana's agrarian civilization.

Although Ghana itself was not rich in natural resources, it was located along an important trade route between gold and ivory producing areas to the south and salt miners in the Sahara desert to the north. As a result of this strategically important location, Ghana became a wealthy entrepot.

Home History Ancient history. What factors caused Ghana's rise and fall? The African trade in gold and salt brought the Ghana Empire to prominence, and the disruption of this trade led to its decline. In its day, Ghana was one of the richest polities in Africa.