High Middle Ages · Africa · Politics

1039

Ghana Empire controls Audaghost trade hub

1039

The Soninke rulers of Ghana extended their authority over the Saharan trading town of Audaghost, previously held by Sanhaja Berbers. The town sat at the junction of caravan routes linking West African gold to North African markets. Its capture demonstrated Ghana's capacity to project power deep into the desert and extract tribute from the trans-Saharan trade.