Which of the following sets contains the major West African empires known for trade, learning, and rulers like Mansa Musa?

• A. Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
• B. Axum, Carthage, and Nubia
• C. Mali, Kush, and Axum
• D. Ghana, Benin, and Songhai

Answer: (A)

West African empires known for thriving trade, centers of learning, and rulers like Mansa Musa are Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. Ghana laid the early foundation with control of the gold-salt trade and wealth that fueled its power. Mali rose after, with famous centers of learning such as Timbuktu and a ruler like Mansa Musa who expanded scholarship and hajj pilgrimage, symbolizing the empire’s wealth and intellectual prestige. Songhai came later, continuing the trade networks and scholarly activity that characterized the region’s great West African powers. The other sets mix empires from different regions or include states not tied to this era or to Mansa Musa, so they don’t fit as neatly with the described legacy.