Ancient Africa had diverse geographic regions separated by deserts and jungles. Major river systems like the Nile, Niger, and Congo supported trade, agriculture, and the development of kingdoms. In West Africa, the Ghana Empire taxed caravans crossing the Sahara in salt and gold trade. The Mali Empire grew wealthy under Mansa Musa's rule and promotion of Islam. Further south, Bantu farmers migrated when resources were depleted, practicing animism, oral traditions, and kinship-based social structures.