The old Ghana Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of Ghana or the Wagadou Empire, was a West

African kingdom that existed from approximately the 6th century to the 13th century. It was located in
what is now southeastern Mauritania and western Mali. The kingdom was known for its wealth and
control over the trans-Saharan trade routes, particularly the trade in gold.

The origins of the Ghana Kingdom are somewhat unclear, as there are few written records from the time.
It is believed that the Soninke people, an ethnic group in the region, established the kingdom and its
capital at Kumbi Saleh. The Soninke people used their control over gold mines in the region to build a
powerful empire.

The Ghana Kingdom reached its peak in the 9th and 10th centuries. It had a centralized political system
with a king, known as the Ghana or Wagadou, who held significant power. The kingdom’s wealth was
primarily based on controlling the gold trade. Gold was mined in the south and exchanged for salt and
other goods from the Sahara desert to the north. The Ghana Empire maintained a monopoly over this
trade and levied taxes on the goods passing through its territory.

The Ghana Kingdom's prosperity attracted the attention of Arab traders from North Africa, who visited
the region and recorded their observations. Arab chroniclers described the Ghana Kingdom as a wealthy
and powerful state with a sophisticated court and administration. They also noted the Ghana Empire’s
adoption of Islam, although the religion did not become the dominant faith among the population.

Over time, the Ghana Kingdom faced challenges from external forces. In the 11th century, the
Almoravids, a Berber Muslim dynasty from the western Sahara, began expanding their influence in the
region. The Almoravids saw the Ghana Empire as a rival and sought to control its lucrative trade routes.
They launched a series of military campaigns against the Ghana Kingdom and eventually captured its
capital, Kumbi Saleh, in the late 11th century.

After the fall of the capital, the Ghana Empire fragmented into smaller states, and its influence and
power declined. The exact reasons for the decline of the old Ghana Kingdom are debated among
historians, but factors such as internal conflicts, external invasions, and shifts in trade routes likely played
a role.

It Is important to note that the Ghana Empire is not related to the modern-day country of Ghana in West
Africa. The modern nation of Ghana adopted its name in honor of the ancient empire, as it symbolized a
rich and powerful African civilization.