The kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai became powerful through their natural resources by using trading routes, such as the Trans-Saharan trade routes. The network of these trade routes spread across Africa all the way to the Middle East etc. Although the region of West Africa wasn't very active in trade during the time of the Silk Road, they became very active in trade later. They also used their natural resources, such as gold and salt, to gain money flowing into their empires as it was deemed valuable by merchants. This money helped their empires grow wealthy and make a name for themselves for that region.
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