Which West African empire profited from trans-Saharan trade including Timbuktu?

• A. Ghana Empire
• B. Mali Empire
• C. Songhai Empire
• D. Benin Empire

Answer: (B)

Trans-Saharan trade created enormous wealth for empires that controlled the caravan routes and taxed the goods moving across the desert. The Mali Empire did just that, extending its authority over these routes and turning gold and other goods into vast wealth. Timbuktu grew into a major trading center and later a renowned center of learning, thriving under Mali’s influence and helping to amplify the empire’s wealth and prestige. This combination—dominating the trade network and building a city that attracted merchants and scholars—makes Mali the most fitting answer. While earlier Ghana and, later, Songhai were involved in regional trade networks, Timbuktu’s rise and fame are most closely tied to Mali’s power in this period, whereas Benin occupied a different, forest-based trade context.