The main product traded in the West African kingdoms during the trans-Saharan trade was gold. Gold was highly valued, and West Africa was rich in this precious metal, particularly during the medieval period. Kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai thrived by controlling and taxing trade routes that connected sub-Saharan Africa to North Africa and, by extension, Europe and the Middle East. The wealth generated from gold trade allowed these kingdoms to flourish socially, politically, and culturally. Additionally, commodities like salt, ivory, and enslaved people were also part of the trading network, which played a crucial role in shaping regional economies.