Ghana Empire

The Ghana Empire, also known as Wagadu, was an ancient western-Sahelian empire located in modern-day Mauritania and Mali. Founded around 100 CE and dissolving around 1200 CE, it was first mentioned in written records by al-Khwārizmī in 830, with further details provided by al-Bakri in the 11th century. After centuries of prosperity, the empire declined in the second millennium and became a vassal state of the Mali Empire in the 13th century. Its influence persisted through the establishment of numerous urban centers. In 1957, the Gold Coast adopted the name Ghana upon achieving independence.