[4] Sited at the crossroads of the Trans-Saharan trade, Kumase's strategic location contributed significantly to its growth.

[5] The main causal factors included the unquestioning loyalty to the Asante rulers and the Kumase metropolis' growing wealth, derived in part from the capital's lucrative domestic-trade in items such as gold, slaves, and bullion.

[4][6] Osei Tutu I obtained the support of other clan chiefs and, using Kumase as the central base, subdued surrounding Akan states.

[4] The Ashanti Region has a variable terrain: coasts and mountains; wildlife sanctuary, strict nature reserve, and national parks; forests and grasslands;[7] lush agricultural areas;[8] and near savannas,[7] enriched with vast deposits of industrial minerals,[8] most notably vast deposits of gold.

Today, as in the past, the Ashanti Region continues to make significant contributions to Ghana's economy.

[17] Asante is richly endowed with industrial minerals and agricultural implements, Asante is responsible for much of Ghana's domestic food production and for the foreign exchange Ghana earns from cocoa, agricultural implements, gold, bauxite, manganese, various other industrial minerals, and timber.

Asantehene Osei Kofi Tutu I, military leader and head of the Oyoko clan, founded the Asante kingdom.

Osei Tutu obtained the support of other clan chiefs and using Kumase as the central base, subdued surrounding states.

[21] The Asante state strongly resisted attempts by Europeans, mainly the Kingdom of Great Britain, to conquer them.

[21] The Asante were described as a fierce organized people whose king "can bring 200,000 men into the field and whose warriors are evidently not cowed by Snider rifles and 7-pounder guns".

[27] Historically, this mother progeny relationship determined land rights, inheritance of property, offices and titles.

[27] Historically, an Asante girl was betrothed with a golden ring called "petia" (I love you), if not in childhood, immediately after the puberty ceremony.

[27] The puberty rite was and is important as it signifies passage from childhood to adulthood in that chastity is encouraged before marriage.

[28] Bragoro rites enable women to marry, showcase them to society, teach them how to be wives and mothers, and signify their coming of age.

[30][31] As well, older women in the community, called mmerewa, teach the girls about marriage, motherhood, and morality.

[30] The matrilineal system of the Asante culturally gives women a sense of authority, continuity, and the right to become a breadwinner and make money.

[30][33] This is displayed in the roles of adult women in society, obaapanin (female elder), and the ohemaa (queen) stool, which ranks higher than the male counterpart.

[30] In Asante royalty, the Asantehemaa (queen mother) is seen as the advisor of the Asantehene (king), full of wisdom and knowledge.

[38] Asante people received the religion of Islamic North Africa within their talismanic tradition, making amulets with Quranic citations, name of the Arabic angels or Jinn.

Amulets were also set in the corners of houses or soaked in water to produce liquids for drinking and for washing that were believed to have thaumaturgical properties.