Cynthia Nguyen
Andrew Perez
Kapil Chimmula
6th Period
Trans-regional Trading Networks:
The Trans-Saharan Trade Route
The Establishment of the Trans-Saharan Trade Route
The trans-Saharan trade route was conducted throughout a vast region between the Mediterranean countries and sub-Saharan Africa. It was an important trading route commencing from the early eighth century to late sixteenth century. A place where countless numbers of people practice trade, the Sahara progressed around small trading routes. The establishments of trade interconnected the European world to African empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. However, traveling across the Sahara is difficult; transportation relied and gravely depended on camels.
Post Classical Period
In 750 C.E, during the post classical era, caravans of camels improved the way of transaction through the hostile constituency. Because of the hard ships of crossing through the desert, camels were ideal to adapt in desert conditions. Camels are designed to go days without water and carry heavy loads. A caravan of camels usually consisted of thousands of camels.
Trade was primarily located in the Northern part of Africa. Flourishing cities that developed around the trans-Saharan trade route resulted in thriving population growth. Popular exchanges had consisted of: spices and iron from Kush and India, tools, ceramics, silk and beads from Europe and Asia, spices and slaves were traded locally. Empires prospered under the Saharan trade and as an outcome migrations, linguistic diffusion and cross-cultural exchanges occurred.
Ghana Empire
The upsurge of the Empire of Ghana was an escalation of trans-Saharan trade. The Saharan trade routes remained influential to Ghana’s triumph. Koumbi, a trade center during the realm, was the capital of Ghana’s kingdom. Ghana’s main imports were cloth, brocades, copper and salt. The empire had lacked resources in salt but had possessed a grave extent of gold. For this reason, the gold-salt trade amongst the Arab merchants and Ghana Empire prospered. Sidjilmassa, a commercial city where the gold-salt trade began, ended in the gold expanse of Wangara. During this time, slaves were being traded on a consistent basis. They were imported to serve as domestic servants or highly qualified slave warriors. Later on Ghana would capture Audaghost which then the Mali Empire would flourish.
Mali Empire
In 1235, the Ghana Empire collapsed and the Islamic Mali Empire ascended to rule. Because of the strong Muslim faith and contact, many of Ghana converted to Islam. Though the gold-salt trade continued to linger, a second major gold-salt trade emerged. This route weaved through the Sahara and continued into Egypt’s interior. As both routes thrived, the growing impact of Egypt’s culture cultivated throughout Sudan. Under the Mali Empire, wealthy towns proliferated. Particular cities such as, Goa and Djenne, of the Niger bend developed with grave prosperity. As for Timbuktu, it became widely known as a city of fortune. The growth of the Mali Empire led to an advance of provisional region amongst the savanna and forest. Western trading courses were essential, and with that cites such as, Ouadane, Oualata, Chinguetti, Begho, and Bono Manso emerged along important trading routes.
Songhai Empire
When the Songhai realm came to power, they thrived on the prominence of the trans-Saharan trading routes. Timbuktu and DJenne, both centers for education and trade, were captured as the Songhai came to rule. It was under their rule that the city of Gao and Takedda grew of population and prospered as important market and financial centers. During the late 1400’s, the trans-Saharan trade finally reached its full potential.
Impacts of Cultural Diffusion
More than just treasured merchandises were exchanged alongside the trans-Saharan routes, cultural influences nurtured throughout Africa. Islamic conversion traveled about and touched one culture to another. The beginning of this religious conversion had sparked the development of new trading routes. Not only did religion of Islam reach the hands of many but the language brought by Arab merchants ignited as well. As the Empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai blossomed, so did the Koran and the written language of Arabic. These cultures diffused together as major cities and countries were affected by migrations and trade.
The Classical Era: The Decline of the Trans-Saharan Trade Routes
The Portuguese expeditions from West African coast created innovative routes for trade between Europe and West Africa. The establishments of European bases on the coast became essential later in the sixteenth century. As the Saharan continued to be a traitorous route, it resulted in a weakening of political and economic implication of North Africa. In 1591, the Moroccan War devastated and demolished Timbuktu and Gao, significant trading centers. The outcome of the war reduced trade substantially. The trans-Saharan trade routes still continued. After the French invasion railroads were constructed and West African trade routes became less of a hassle. Throughout the nineteenth century the nations experienced independence, where then the north and south routes were assisted by national boundaries.
Refrences
"Trans-Saharan Trade Wiki." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Saharan_trade>.
"Saharan Trade: A link Between Europe and Asia." Library think quest. Web. 16 Jan. 2012http://library.thinkquest.org/13406/sh>.
Evans, Bobby. About.com: Need. Know. Accomplish. 2011. Web. 14 Jan. 2012. <http://www.about.com/>.
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 2012. Web. 14 Jan. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page>.
"Newsflash:Heritage Chronicles." Csep.org.uk. CSEP. 16 Jan. 2012 <http://www.csep.org.uk/pdf/newsflash_empires.pdf>.