north salt copper cowrie shells west kola nuts hides – leather goods ivory slaves gold

North Salt Copper Cowrie Shells

West Kola nuts Hides – leather goods Ivory Slaves Gold

Sea snails Uses

Currency Ceremonial Status symbol Fertility

Uses Ceremonial “cure hunger” Replacement for alcohol in Islamic culture Treat whopping cough and asthma Pepsi and Coke!

Camels 25 gallons of water at one time Double row of eyelashes and hairy ear

openings Spread of Islam

Invaded Ghana in 7th century (lost) Many settled as traders

Gold in Wangara (south of Ghana) Salt in Sahara Ghana made most $$

Gold mines Needed for trade w/ China

Secrecy of mines more important than life

Salt more precious than gold Why?

Sweat -> loss of sodium Preserve meat Good taste

1. Water put in holes in salty earth 2. Water drew out Salt 3. Sun evaporated water

Or… Mining

Miners (slaves owned by Arabs) 3ft below surface

Paid when they entered and left city 1/6 ounce of gold – incoming salt load 1/3 ounce of gold – exiting with salt

load Paid for other goods too. Why Pay?

Protection

Silent barter Along river in southern forest 1. Northerns put out goods, beat drum,

then left 2. Wangarans left gold offering beat

drum then left 3. If offer was okay northerners took it

and left, if not they left and waited for better offer

What happened?