What is trans-Saharan trade in Africa?

Trans-Saharan trade, conducted across the Sahara Desert, was a web of commercial interactions between the Arab world (North Africa and the Persian Gulf) and sub-Saharan Africa. The main objects of this trade were gold and salt; gold was in abundance in the western part of Africa, but scarce in North Africa.

Where is trans-Saharan Africa?

Trans-Saharan trade requires travel across the Sahara between sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa. While existing from prehistoric times, the peak of trade extended from the 8th century until the early 17th century. The Sahara once had a very different environment.

How was Africa impacted by the trans-Saharan?

One of the impacts of the growing trans-Saharan trade was the spread of Arabic as a written language in West Africa. Arabic became not only a language of faith and religious scholarship, with the many mallams, shereefs, and other seers who came to the region. It was also a language of government and law.

What caused the trans-Saharan trade?

Gold, sought from the western and central Sudan, was the main commodity of the trans-Saharan trade. The traffic in gold was spurred by the demand for and supply of coinage. The rise of the Soninke empire of Ghana appears to be related to the beginnings of the trans-Saharan gold trade in the fifth century.

What 3 items were traded on the trans-Saharan trade?

Finally, the trans-Saharan trade brought the Sudanic states and their access to gold to the attention of the world outside the insular West African region. Trade Commodities. Salt, gold, and slaves were the essential commodities throughout the 500-1590 period. Cloth also became an important trade good.

What are the impact of trans-Saharan trade?

The trade led to the emergence of a class of wealthy people the merchants who participated in the trade. The trade promoted intermarriage between North African and West African. The trade introduced new cultural values in West Africa e.g. people adopted new styles of dressing and eating habits.

What religion spread the trans-Saharan route?

Islam
With the increased volume of trans-Saharan trade in the Islamic period, new cultural influences began to spread in Western Africa. The most important of them was a new religion, Islam, which was adopted in the states belonging to the sphere of the caravan trade by the end of the eleventh century.

Which part of Africa is Sub Saharan?

Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara.

What problems did the trans-Saharan traders face?

a) There was Communication barrier due to lack of a common language for transactions. b) Traveling long distances for many months, usually upto three months. c) Traveling under extreme weather conditions; too hot during the day and too cold at night. d) Scarcity of water and food during the journeys.

How did slavery change Africa?

The effect of slavery in Africa Some states, such as Asante and Dahomey, grew powerful and wealthy as a result. Other states were completely destroyed and their populations decimated as they were absorbed by rivals. Millions of Africans were forcibly removed from their homes, and towns and villages were depopulated.

What problems did the Trans-Saharan traders face?

What were the negative effects of trans-Saharan trade?

Negative impacts of trans-saharan trade: a) The trade increased warfare in the region as communities gained access to firearms and horses. b) Many people in the western Sudan belt were captured and taken into slavery. c) The demand for ivory also led to the destruction of wildlife in western Sudan.

What countries were involved in the trans-Saharan trade?

By the end of the 5th century, Berbers were routinely traveling across the Sahara to trade salt and other goods to the African states in Sudan, Mali, Ghana, and elsewhere in western Africa. In exchange, they received gold, which the sub-Saharan African states had in abundance.

How is Sub-Saharan Africa different from North Africa?

One of the most notable differences is the skin color of the people, While most Sub-Saharan countries have a dominantly black population, the north Africans have a not so black population.

What religion spread the Trans-Saharan route?

What was important about the trans-Saharan route?

Islam was the most important factor in the expansion of trans- Saharan trade. After the Arab conquests of the 600s CE, the Berbers converted to Islam. Many West African merchants converted as well. Arabic provided a common language and value system, making it easier for traders to communicate and record their trades.

What diseases were spread on the trans-Saharan trade route?

The Silk Roads: Disease

• Long-distance trade = resulted in exposure to unfamiliar diseases.
• Athens (430-429 BCE) = widespread epidemic; killed 25% of the army.
• Roman & Han Empires = measles and smallpox devastated both populations.
• Mediterranean World (534-750 CE) = devastated by bubonic plague from India.

What is trans-Saharan trade?

Trans-Saharan trade requires travel across the Sahara between sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa. While existing from prehistoric times, the peak of trade extended from the 8th century until the early 17th century.

Are there any trans-Saharan highways across the Sahara Desert?

Only a few trucks carry trans-Saharan trade, particularly fuel and salt. Three other highways across the Sahara are proposed: for further details see Trans-African Highways. Building the highways is difficult because of sandstorms. ^ Shillington, Kevin (1995) [1989]. History of Africa (Second ed.). New York: St. Martin’s Press. p. 32.

How unwanted is trans-Saharan migration?

Second, trans-Saharan migration is less unwanted than it seems. The demand for cheap (unauthorized) immigrant labor in Europe, Libya, and other North African countries is likely to persist or even increase, and a new generation of educated and ambitious sub-Saharan Africans is likely to respond.

How did the Trans-Saharan gold trade influence the development of Africa?

Money was the cause of the early interest of Arabic traders in West Africa, which was indeed known to them as “the golden country”.The influence of the trans-Saharan gold trade on European societies can be seen for instance in the derivation of the Spanish word for gold coin in the 15 th century, maravedí, from the Almoravid murabitūn dinar.