A great trading empire that flourished in NW
Africa between the 5th and 13th centuries.
Founded by the Soninke people, the Ghana
Empire was based, like the Mali Empire which
superseded it, on the Saharan gold trade. At
its peak in the 11th century, it occupied an
area that includes parts of present-day Mali,
Senegal, and Mauritania. Wars with the Berber
tribes of the Sahara led to its fragmentation
and collapse in the 13th century, when much
of its territory was absorbed into Mali. From
its capital at Kumbi Saleh, most trade routes
ran north across the Sahara and west to the
coast. Trade consisted mainly of the exchange
of gold from inland deposits for salt from
the coast.