Final answer:
The introduction of camels enabled the expansion of trans-Saharan trade, crucial for the economic growth of the Ghana Empire, resulting in increased wealth, structured governments, and social stratification in West Africa.
Step-by-step explanation:
The introduction of the camel as a pack animal had significant implications on the growth of Ghana into the most powerful empire in West Africa. This domestication led to enhanced transportation capabilities across the Sahara Desert, which in turn facilitated a significant increase in trade. The desert was once a formidable barrier, but camels provided a reliable means of traversing its expanses, allowing the transport of valuable commodities like gold, salt, and ivory. The economic boom spurred by this increased trade resulted in the expansion and consolidation of Ghana Empire's power.
The camel's ability to carry large loads over long distances without water was pivotal. It enabled the establishment of new trade routes and the expansion of existing ones. Because of this, trans-Saharan trade flourished, and with it, the wealth of West African empires like Ghana. Trade routes such as those between Sijilmasa and Awdaghost became key arteries of commerce, moving not just goods but ideas, technology, and culture between Africa and the Mediterranean world. Subsequently, these interactions increased the demand for regional resources, further bolstering the empire's economic base.
Trade in gold and other resources directly influenced the rise of structured governments and urban centers. As Ghanaian chieftains and merchants accumulated wealth, they were able to exert more control over the region, leading to increasingly sophisticated governmental structures and a more stratified society. This patronage of trade and economic might allowed the larger-scale political entities in West Africa to command greater influence, laying foundations for an urbanized social order and the emergence of intellectual centers such as Timbuktu, contributing to both the economic and cultural development of West Africa.