Trans- Saharan TradeTrans- Saharan Trade

Connecting Western Africa to the Mediterranean World

Origins of the Trans- Saharan tradeOrigins of the Trans- Saharan trade

Sporadic encounters for more than Sporadic encounters for more than 1,000 years1,000 years

Initiators of trade were Berber Initiators of trade were Berber nomadsnomads

What was traded?What was traded?

SaltSalt IvoryIvory SlavesSlaves GoldGold Helped the spread of IslamHelped the spread of Islam

– Muslim traders not only exchanged salt, Muslim traders not only exchanged salt, but their religionbut their religion

West African encounter with the West African encounter with the ArabsArabs

Solid market for gold in Islamic Solid market for gold in Islamic societysociety

In eastern parts, sufficient minesIn eastern parts, sufficient mines In western parts, more difficultIn western parts, more difficult

Arabs organized trade as they Arabs organized trade as they consolidated controlconsolidated control

Very little is known about the volume Very little is known about the volume during first Islamic centuriesduring first Islamic centuries

Real boom of trade began in 10Real boom of trade began in 10thth c. c.

Gold TradeGold Trade

Major commodity- prestigous itemMajor commodity- prestigous item Standard weight system in Rome Standard weight system in Rome

used in Africa used in Africa – Arab traders are believed to have Arab traders are believed to have

brought first scales and weightsbrought first scales and weights Deposits in several different regions Deposits in several different regions

enriched Africa’s pre-colonial cities enriched Africa’s pre-colonial cities and kingdomsand kingdoms

Gold Trade cont’dGold Trade cont’d

Actual sources of gold never toldActual sources of gold never told Early methods of mining- little is Early methods of mining- little is

knownknown Gold mining seen as an arduous and Gold mining seen as an arduous and

dangerous taskdangerous task– Slaves often employed to work in Slaves often employed to work in

mineshafts, accidents very commonmineshafts, accidents very common

The Trans- Saharan Gold Trade (7th to 14th c. CE) The shaded portion indicates the empire of Mali in the fourteenth century, and the dashed lines trace the main trans-Saharan routes of the period

West Africans in the MediterraneanWest Africans in the Mediterranean

Africans were not unfamiliar in the Africans were not unfamiliar in the ancient Mediterraneanancient Mediterranean

Not until Islamic period most arrived Not until Islamic period most arrived as slavesas slaves

Salt TradeSalt Trade

Probably one of the earliest goods Probably one of the earliest goods tradedtraded

Large deposits located in Sahara and Large deposits located in Sahara and MaliMali

Traded salt for slaves, gold, ivory, Traded salt for slaves, gold, ivory, craft goods, pepper, cola nuts, and craft goods, pepper, cola nuts, and foodstuffsfoodstuffs

Accumulation of goods exchanged Accumulation of goods exchanged for salt promoted social stratificationfor salt promoted social stratification

Ivory TradeIvory Trade

Symbol of luxurySymbol of luxury– Used for- furniture, book covers, birdcages, Used for- furniture, book covers, birdcages,

broachesbroaches All over ancient worldAll over ancient world Most of supply from present-day SudanMost of supply from present-day Sudan After Rome’s decline, China and India After Rome’s decline, China and India

largest importers of African ivorylargest importers of African ivory Ivory trade was slowed in order to Ivory trade was slowed in order to

preserve elephant population (late 19preserve elephant population (late 19thth c.) c.)

Slave TradeSlave Trade

Dates back several millenniaDates back several millennia Slave traffickers were MuslimsSlave traffickers were Muslims Far less institutionalized than Trans- Far less institutionalized than Trans-

AtlanticAtlantic 2/3’s of slaves exported were 2/3’s of slaves exported were

females- concubines or servantsfemales- concubines or servants

Slave Trade cont’dSlave Trade cont’d

Taken from the savanna and forest Taken from the savanna and forest zones of West Africazones of West Africa

Acquired through raids, warfare or Acquired through raids, warfare or tributetribute

Once purchased, traveled on foot Once purchased, traveled on foot and assisted with daily choresand assisted with daily chores

Slave trade tapered ~1830, but then Slave trade tapered ~1830, but then slavery abolished in 1920s through slavery abolished in 1920s through League of NationsLeague of Nations

End of Trans- Saharan TradeEnd of Trans- Saharan Trade

Collapse of Songhay empire after the Collapse of Songhay empire after the Moroccan attack in 1591Moroccan attack in 1591

Trade less profitable afterTrade less profitable after– Disintegration of West African political Disintegration of West African political

structuresstructures– Contemporary economic decline of Northern Contemporary economic decline of Northern

AfricaAfrica– European competition on the Guinea coastEuropean competition on the Guinea coast

Shift in favor of the Atlantic trade began Shift in favor of the Atlantic trade began with arrival of Portuguese ships ~1440swith arrival of Portuguese ships ~1440s