The Empires of Ancient West Africa became wealthy and prosperous because of trade centers. They had bustling trade centers. Muslim merchants taxed traders who used trade routes that pass through Ghana, they also taxed merchants who sold gold and salt. Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage expanded trade. According to Blackpast.org Koumbi - Salah was an important city between 800 - 1050 A.D The major trade centers were cities such as Timuktu, Gao, and Agadez. Gao was a powerful and wealthy center located along the Trans Saharan Trade routes. Timbuktu was at the end of the Camel Caravan route that linked from Sarahan Africa to North Africa and Arabia. The town of Agadez in Niger is a maze of sandy streets and mud brick houses on the Southern rim of the Sahara.
