Final answer:
The king of Ghana absorbed Islamic culture, legal systems, and administrative practices from Muslim traders, leading to increased prosperity and a cosmopolitan society within the empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
The king of Ghana gradually absorbed Islamic culture and legal systems from Muslim traders as the kingdom interacted with the broader Islamic world, particularly through trans-Saharan trade. Muslim Berbers helped to spread Islam across the region, influencing various aspects of Ghanaian society. Though the kings never converted to Islam, their tolerance and interaction with Muslim merchants led to the allocation of a second town within the capital for Islamic communities, complete with mosques. This resulted in Ghana benefiting from the trans-Saharan trade, which was overwhelmingly conducted by Muslims.
The influence of Islam in Ghana became more pronounced by the eleventh century, spurring military, cultural, and intellectual exchanges. The king's court, which included Muslim advisors, held a position atop the social hierarchy, followed by traders and merchants. Over time, the absorption of Islamic culture by the ruling classes of Ghana contributed to the kingdom's prosperity and the creation of a cosmopolitan society within the empire.