How did the kings of Ghana become wealthy? Did they use the trans Saharan trade route to acquire expensive ivory?
The kings of Ghana became wealthy through various means, including controlling and taxing trade routes that passed through their empire. While the trans-Saharan trade played a role in their prosperity, it was not solely dependent on acquiring expensive ivory.
The Empire of Ghana, which existed between the 6th and 13th centuries in the region of present-day Ghana and Mali, was strategically located between West Africa and the North African Arab-Muslim states. This advantageous position allowed the kings of Ghana to establish and control trade routes, acting as intermediaries between the resource-rich West African territories and the Mediterranean trade networks.
Ghana's wealth primarily came from gold, which was abundant in the region. The empire had substantial gold mines, and the kings of Ghana monopolized the mining and trading of gold within their territories. They levied taxes on the gold production and trade, which contributed immensely to their wealth. Gold was highly valued in the trans-Saharan trade, and Ghana became a major supplier of this precious resource.
While gold was the primary source of wealth, the trans-Saharan trade also enabled the kings of Ghana to acquire various commodities such as salt, textiles, and luxury goods like ivory and spices. The Sahara Desert acted as a natural barrier, making it difficult for traders to cross its vast expanse. However, the kings of Ghana facilitated and controlled the trade by providing security, establishing trade agreements, and collecting tolls and taxes on goods passing through their territories.
While ivory was indeed a coveted commodity in the trans-Saharan trade, it is important to note that Ghana's wealth was not solely based on acquiring expensive ivory. Gold remained the cornerstone of the empire's wealth, and the kings of Ghana leveraged their control over trade to amass riches from various goods passing through their empire.