Saharan commerce, following the transformation of the west african gold trade and the. So it is hard to understand the importance of trans saharan trade without understanding its importance for society, in terms of organisation and belief. These trade routes connected all the empires and cities of west africa and made all of these empires wealthy and important. The route, which not only attracted traders, did much more than just trade. The trans saharan trade was an important gateway for the spread of islam in africa. The trans saharan trade is said to have facilitated the spread of islam religion in western sudan. Zanj revolt zahnjee slave revolt led by ali bin muhammed in 869 c.
The transsaharan trade and its impact on west african culture. Transsaharan trade requires travel across the sahara north and south to reach subsaharan. The journey south the traders who traveled to west africa faced a long, difficult journey. Transsaharan trade routes and african empires guided lesson. Transsaharan slave trade was conducted within the ambits of the transsaharan trade, otherwise referred to as the arab trade. So far, only the islam in africa subfield within african studies has properly situated the sahara as a space of flows, of trade and intellectual. The portuguese journeys around the west african coast opened up new avenues for trade between europe and west africa.
On the wider theme of the shift from transsaharan to coastal trade in west africa, see anene, j. While ghana was an integral part of the early transsaharan trade, neither it nor any other. The transsaharan trade route linked north africa and the mediterranean world with the land and peoples of interior west africa. Ancient trade routes connected subsaharan west africa to the mediterranean coast. People traded were not limited to a certain race, ethnicity, or religion. Transsaharan trade was the transit of goods between subsaharan africa and the northern arab and european worlds. History textbook west african senior school certificate.
The african union and african development bank support the transsahara highway from algiers to lagos via tamanrasset which aims to stimulate transsaharan trade. The subject of transsaharan trade looms large in most accounts of west african. As the trade intensified, infrastructures were developed in form of trade roots, schools, mosques and monuments. The transsaharan trade routes affected many things, both positively and negatively. Ghana, west africas first kingdom, depended upon income from trade. The arrival of europeans on the west african coast and their establishment of slave ports in various parts of the continent triggered a continuous process of exploitation of africa s human resources, labor. Trans saharan trade routes promoted the growth of powerful trading cities in the time period because they traded valuable items like slaves, gold, and salt, which increased the net worth of the cities and allowed for economic growth that way. Doc cause and effect of the ancient transsaharan trade. Describe the role of the transsaharan caravan trade in the changing religious and cultural characteristics of west africa and the influence of islamic beliefs, ethics, and law. The trans atlantic slave trade greatly debilitated the economy of west africa. Control of the transsaharan trade made ghana wealthy and powerful.
Describe reasons for the decline of transsaharan trade. Students will begin the lesson by brainstorming the word slavery. Transsaharan trade and the west african discovery of the. In west africa, the most important changes came in ghana. Watch the video about the transsaharan and complete the activities that are found by watching the video. The empires of west africa grew as a result of the transsaharan trade routes.
Architecture of the subsaharan civilizations boundless. In libya and algeria, from at least 7000 bc, there was pastoralism, the. Between the 11th and th centuries, djenne was a leading commercial center in west africa. Transsaharan trade routes promoted the growth of powerful trading cities in the time period because they traded valuable items like slaves, gold, and salt, which increased the net worth of the cities and allowed for economic growth that way. Use this chart to take notes about how the people of west africa built empires from the wealth gained by trade. By the early sixteenth century, european bases were being established on the coast and trade with the now wealthier europeans became of prime importance to west africa. Identify the muslim trade routes to india, china, europe, and africa and assess the economic. All of these led to cultural exchanges between the arabs from north africa and the people from western sudan.
The legacy of the medieval empires and nineteenth century reform movements continues to have relevance in present day senegal, gambia, mali, nigeria, burkina faso, nigeria, as well as many neighboring communities. How did the transsaharan trade transform west africa. See how much you know about this economic boon by answering questions. Transsaharan trade, conducted across the sahara desert, was a web of commercial interactions between the arab world north africa and.
The empires of west africa grew as a result of the trans saharan trade routes. Why discuss the transsaharan trade as part of a workshop dealing with. The trans saharan trade routes affected many things, both positively and negatively. Socially, the biggest impact the transatlantic slave trade had on west africa was a decrease in their population. The largest and most studied of the slave trades is the transatlantic trade slave trade, where beginning in the. It became so rich it was known as the land of gold.
The transsaharan trade was a twoway exchange between subsaharan regions and the north. Until 1076, muslims and worshippers of african religions had coexisted there, but in that year the. Read the chart to answer questions on the next page. It is not a detailed study of the arab world, nor of africa, but an outline of key points which will help with understanding the slave trade in this part of the world. Effect of the slave trade on west africa schoolworkhelper. The trans saharan trade was a twoway exchange between sub saharan regions and the north. Transsaharan trade requires travel across the sahara north and south to reach sub saharan africa from the north african coast, europe, to the levant. A study of the transatlantic and transsaharan slave trades overview this lesson is intended as a short overview of the transatlantic and transsaharan slave trades. The archeological evidence for islam, and its connection to the transsaharan trade route, is found in two areas in particular. Because of the trading, the transsaharan cities could grow. The transsaharan trade was an important gateway for the spread of islam in africa. Cause and effect of the ancient transsaharan trade in west.
Shillington proceeds to identify this trade route as the source for west african iron smelting. Explain the origins of islam and the growth of the islamic empire. Watch the video about the trans saharan and complete the activities that are found by watching the video. Ghana, west africa s first kingdom, depended upon income from trade. Sswh5 the student will trace the origins and expansion of the islamic world between 600 ce and 0 ce. 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.
Answering the question at the end of each section will help you. In early transsaharan trade, small trade routes around the nile valley were being utilized throughout the millennia, while travels across the sahara prior to the domestication of the camel were difficult. Describe the role of the trans saharan caravan trade in the changing religious and cultural characteristics of west africa and the influence of islamic beliefs, ethics, and law. About twothirds of the people sold to european trades were men, the majority of. The existing trade was one of great complexity and enormous vitality. West african senior school certificate examination introduction.
Answers 1 explain six factors that facilitated the growth and development of trans saharan trade solved. The economic organization of the transsaharan slave trade. Blake, west africa a search for god and gold 14541578 london. Because of the trading, the trans saharan cities could grow. The trans saharan trade was made possible by both the demand for gold in north africa and the mediterranean and by the arduous journey across the sahara traders were forced to make. Ancient trade routes connected sub saharan west africa to the mediterranean coast. This route not only was an economical boost for everyone, but it also. Trans saharan trade was essential to the growth of west african states around the 7th century ce. The historic geography of the transsaharan book trade eric ross chapter two.
Trade across the sahara between north africa and subsaharan africa, which reached a peak between the eighth and sixteenth centuries. Jul 23, 2015 trans saharan slave trade was conducted within the ambits of the trans saharan trade, otherwise referred to as the arab trade. Cause and effect of the ancient transsaharan trade in west africa edice hua ancient african civilizations hist12521. Transsaharan trade was essential to the growth of west african states around the 7th century ce. Origins, organization and effects in the development of west africa. Answers 1 state the role of tuaregs in the transsaharan trade solved. Jan 19, 2007 the transatlantic slave trade radically impaired africa s potential to develop economically and maintain its social and political stability.
The transatlantic slave trade radically impaired africas potential to develop economically and maintain its social and political stability. The growth of the trans saharan trade from the 10 th to the 15 th century led to profound transformations across west africa, and this can be seen through a whole range of transformations that took place in the 15 th century, from west to east and from north to south. A brief history pg145, state that the transatlantic slave trade was responsible for the forced migration of between 1215 million people from africa. The transsaharan book trade manuscript culture, arabic. The first was the empire of ghana, established five. Islamic traders entered the region and began to trade for gold and slaves from western africa.
Environmental variations north african coast cloth, glassware, weapons, books, and manufactured goods sahara desert copper and salt sweet and nutritious dates at its oases. West africa during middle ages free pdf file sharing. Africa during the middle ages artifact kit imw africa series newspaper set filename. California content influence of transsaharan standard 7. European visitors to west africa sought to undercut the transsaharan trade, and to some degree they succeeded. Pdf a historical geography of the transsaharan trade. European visitors to west africa sought to undercut the trans saharan trade, and to some degree they succeeded. As adu boahen has explained, the trans saharan caravan trade began to take place on a regular basis during the fourth century, as an expanded version of the preexisting intra and interregional trade among peoples of the forest, savanna, sahel, and sahara. But in other ways the transsaharan trade expanded along with that of the atlantic. The paper trade of egypt and the sudan in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries terence walz chapter four. Many kingdoms flourished because of these trade routes. Looking at the relationship between gdp per capita today and participation in the slave trade centuries ago, nunn 2008 4 finds that the slave trade had a negative longterm effect on economic performance. This trade was conducted between the north african traders and their counterparts in west africa. Answers 1 state the role of tuaregs in the trans saharan trade solved identify the role of tuaregs in the trans saharan trade.
The growth of the transsaharan trade from the 10 th to the 15 th century led to profound transformations across west africa, and this can be seen through a whole range of transformations that took place in the 15 th century, from west to east and from north to south. By the year, ghanas empire dominated the trade routes between north and west africa. In the days before columbus, the portuguese focused their attention on four areas of the. The largest and most studied of the slave trades is the trans atlantic trade slave trade, where beginning in the. Timbuktu was not the only city or region to adopt islam as a result of the trade route. Merchants used camels in caravans to transport goods from western and central africa across the sahara desert to the rest of the world. Cause and effect of the ancient trans saharan trade in west africa edice hua ancient african civilizations hist12521.
The arrival of europeans on the west african coast and their establishment of slave ports in various parts of the continent triggered a continuous process of exploitation of africas human resources, labor, and commodities. I dont know about west africa in particular, but i can tell you about the effects in general. Islamic law, trade networks and crosscultural exchange in western africa. The route is paved except for a 200 km section in northern niger, but border restrictions still hamper traffic. But in other ways the trans saharan trade expanded along with that of the atlantic. Identify the role of tuaregs in the transsaharan trade. As adu boahen has explained, the transsaharan caravan trade began to take place on a regular basis during the fourth century, as an expanded version of the preexisting intra and interregional trade among peoples of the forest, savanna, sahel, and sahara. Trans saharan trade requires travel across the sahara north and south to reach sub saharan africa from the north african coast, europe, to the levant. What effects did the transsaharan trade have on west africa. Central sudan served as a kind of trading bridge between songhai in the west and darfur in the east. Arabic literacy, writing paper and saharan bibliophiles in southwestern sahara ghislaine lydon chapter three. Influence of transsaharan trade on west africa essay. The f imids went to great lengths to organize the annual gold caravans from subsaharan africa.
Undoubtedly, some of this african gold was also used in western gold coins. Social and economic impact of the transsaharan trade in africa north and south of the sahara. Robledo history111 heather thornton august 12, 2012 transsaharan trade during the eighth century until the late sixteenth century, one trade route captivated everyone involved from the mediterranean to the africas. In this lesson, you will learn about the development of the trans saharan trade, and the growth and decline of ghanas empire. As a major terminal in the gold, salt, and slave trade of the transsaharan trade route, it flourished for several centuries. The transsaharan trade was not merely an economic phenomenon, but it connected western africa to the mediterranean world on the. The transsaharan trade played an important role in the rise of states in the senegambia region and the western sudan, in general. Interesting facts about the trade routes of ancient. The trade was focused on the slave markets of the middle east, north africa and the horn of africa. The earliest evidence quoted by hill dates only to the fourteenth century, and refers to east rather than west africa. Migrants that travel this route come from west african countries, such as nigeria, guinea and ivory coast, or from mali and niger itself. The arab slave trade was the practice of slavery in the arab world, mainly in western asia, north africa, east africa, and certain parts of europe such as iberia and sicily during their period of domination by arab leaders.
Social and economic impact of the transsaharan trade in. The f imids went to great lengths to organize the annual gold caravans from sub saharan africa. Much of the transsaharan trade in and out of timbuktu passed through djenne. The trade routes remained an important part of the african economy throughout the middle ages until the 1500s. The transsaharan caravan routes began in north africa along the northwestern border of the. Among the commodities carried southward were silk, cotton, horses, and salt. History what were the impacts of transsaharan trade. The transsaharan gold trade 7th14th century essay the. Nov 11, 2014 social and economic impact of the trans saharan trade in africa north and south of the sahara. These caravans traveled the transsaharan trade route which consisted of many trails that connected the sub sahara region of west africa to the mediterranean sea. Trans saharan trade was the transit of goods between sub saharan africa and the northern arab and european worlds. Transsaharan slave trade history of world civilization ii. Kids learn about the history of trade routes in ancient africa including major trading cities like timbuktu, gao, tunis and cairo.
It would be political, economic and social transformations in west africa. The archeological evidence for islam, and its connection to the trans saharan trade route, is found in two areas in particular. Architecture of the subsaharan civilizations boundless art. African trade reached its height, however, after the arabs had conquered north africa. Among those carried northward were gold, ivory, pepper, and slaves. While existing from prehistoric times, the peak of trade extended from the 8th century until the early 17th century. After a brief discussion, student led groups will examine either the transatlantic or transsaharan slave trade.
The culture and kingdoms of west africa bringdajuice. Although the atlantic slave trade was the shortest in duration, it was the largest and. Outline the challenges faced by transsaharan traders solved. The trans saharan trade played an important role in the rise of states in the senegambia region and the western sudan, in general. What did they come to west africa and subsaharan africa for. Transsaharan trade routes and african empires guided. Figure 1 below provides an overview of the main trans saharan migration roads servicing the west central mediterranean route. The trade route was in operation between the seventh and 14th centuries, expanding the more established trade route of the silk road between europe and the middle east. Your caravan has made it to the edge of the sahara and is setting up camp at a trading site along the niger river.
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