Final answer:
The Ghana Empire was the first major political power in West Africa to create an empire based on military might and wealth from trade. It controlled the gold and salt trade and had a powerful military, setting a precedent for later empires like Mali and Songhai.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first major political power in West Africa to create an empire based on military might and wealth gained from regional trade was the Ghana Empire. This empire emerged around the 6th century and was well established by the 9th century, leveraging wealth from the trans-Saharan trade network. They controlled the trade of gold and salt, which were abundant in the region and were crucial commodities at the time.
The king of Ghana maintained power through a strong military and by controlling the gold supply, which allowed him to exert significant influence over trade prices. After the Ghana Empire came other empires like the Mali Empire and the Songhai Empire, each building on the foundations laid by their predecessors and continuing the tradition of trade and military prowess.