The rise of the Kingdom of Ashanti was primarily driven by the trade of which commodity?

Ashanti territory in Ghana had rich gold deposits. Gold trade with Europeans and North Africans brought enormous wealth. This wealth financed military expansion and state building.

Salt was important but not Ashanti’s main commodity. Ivory came from forest elephants but gold was more valuable. West Africa didn’t produce spices for export.

Gold made Ashanti one of West Africa’s most powerful kingdoms. The famous Golden Stool symbolized this gold-based power.