Centered in what is today Senegal and Mauritania, the Kingdom of Ghana dominated West Africa between about 750 and 1078 A.D. Famous to North Africans as the “Land of Gold,” Ghana was said to possess sophisticated methods of administration and taxation, large armies, and a monopoly over notoriously well-concealed gold mines.

The king of the Soninke people who founded Ghana never fully embraced Islam, but good relations with Muslim traders were fostered. Ancient Ghana derived power and wealth from gold and the use of the camel increased the quantity of goods that were transported. One Arab writer, Al-Hamdani, describes Ghana as having the richest gold mines on Earth. Ghana was also a great military power. According to one narrative, the king had at his command 200,000 warriors and an additional 40,000 archers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/4chapter1.shtml

http://atlantablackstar.com/2013/12/05/7-midieval-african-kingdoms/

http://themedievalages.weebly.com/africa-ancient-ghana.html

http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-ancient-history/ancient-ghana.html

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/history/ancient_ghana.php

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ghan/hd_ghan.htm