Trans-Saharan Trade

Definition

Trans-Saharan trade refers to the extensive commercial networks that connected West Africa with North Africa and the Mediterranean world across the Sahara Desert. This trade played a crucial role in the economic and cultural development of West Africa, particularly in the context of the region's involvement in the global slave trade.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The trans-Saharan trade network facilitated the exchange of goods such as gold, salt, slaves, and luxury items between West Africa and the Mediterranean world.
2. The trade routes were controlled by powerful West African empires, including Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, which taxed the caravans and profited from the lucrative commerce.
3. The trans-Saharan trade played a significant role in the spread of Islam in West Africa, as Muslim merchants and scholars traveled along the trade routes, spreading the religion and its cultural influences.
4. The demand for slaves in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern markets was a major driver of the trans-Saharan slave trade, which had a devastating impact on the populations and societies of West Africa.
5. The decline of the trans-Saharan trade in the 19th century, due to the rise of maritime trade and the abolition of the slave trade, contributed to the weakening of West African empires and the increasing European colonization of the region.

Review Questions

• Describe the key goods and commodities that were exchanged as part of the trans-Saharan trade network.
  • The trans-Saharan trade network facilitated the exchange of a variety of goods between West Africa and the Mediterranean world. West Africa exported valuable natural resources such as gold, ivory, and slaves, while North Africa and the Mediterranean supplied salt, textiles, and luxury items. This exchange of goods not only supported the economies of the participating regions but also fostered cultural and technological diffusion across the Sahara Desert.
• Explain the role of powerful West African empires in controlling and profiting from the trans-Saharan trade.
  • The trans-Saharan trade routes were dominated by several influential West African empires, including Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. These empires strategically positioned themselves to tax the caravans passing through their territories, generating significant revenue from the lucrative commerce. The wealth and power accumulated through the trans-Saharan trade allowed these West African kingdoms to expand their political influence, build impressive cities and infrastructure, and support the growth of cultural and intellectual centers like Timbuktu.
• Analyze the impact of the trans-Saharan slave trade on the populations and societies of West Africa.
  • The demand for slaves in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern markets was a major driver of the trans-Saharan slave trade, which had a devastating impact on the populations and societies of West Africa. Millions of Africans were forcibly removed from their communities and sold into slavery, disrupting social structures, family units, and economic systems. The large-scale displacement of people also contributed to the weakening of West African empires and facilitated the increasing European colonization of the region in the 19th century, as the trans-Saharan trade declined and the region became more vulnerable to external influences.

Related terms

Caravan Trade: The system of caravans, or groups of merchants and travelers, that transported goods across the Sahara Desert as part of the trans-Saharan trade network.

Saharan Oases: The strategically located desert oases that served as important stops along the trans-Saharan trade routes, providing water, food, and shelter for the caravans.

Timbuktu: A prominent city in the Mali Empire that became a major hub for trans-Saharan trade, known for its thriving markets, universities, and cultural significance.