Topic 2.4 - Trans-Saharan Trade Routes

Who is Ibn Battuta?

A Muslim scholar and explorer of the 14th century.

Describe camels and their adaptability.

Accustomed to the harsh, dry climate of the Arabian Desert, camels adapted well to living in the Sahara. compared to horses, camels can consume a large quantity of water at one time (over 50 gallons in three minutes) and not need more water for a long time. They began to replace horses and donkeys after 300 C.E. Located in Northern Africa and Sub-Saharan West Africa, they were able to travel long distances, eat thorny plants and drink salty water found in deserts. They have long eyelashes that protect against desert winds, they are the only animal that can cross deserts, do not get spooked easily, and can carry up to 600 pounds. Though they require high level of salt to stay healthy, can be very aggressive and even vengeful, cannot be controlled with a bit, and can't be boarded in a stall.

When and where did the trans-Saharan trade become famous?

At the end of the 8th century C.E. throughout Europe and Asia.

While the East African Coast had been fairly populated for many centuries before the arrival of Islam, why did few societies inhabit the Sahara Desert?

Because its arid climate made it nearly impossible to farm.

What did the government of Mali profit from? What did they do that was bad? What was the pro of this action?

Gold trade; taxed nearly all other trade entering West Africa; it became even more prosperous than Ghana had been.

What was the most precious commodity traded? Who and where did people get this commodity? What did foreign traders came to West Africa seeking? In exchange, what did these foreign traders bring? For more than 700 years, trans-Saharan trade brought what to the societies of West Africa, particularly the kingdoms of Ghana and Mali?

Gold; West African merchants acquired the metal from the waters of the Senegal River, near modern-day Senegal and Mauritania. Foreign traders came to West Africa seeking gold, ivory, and slaves. Salt, textiles, and horses. Considerable wealth and Islam, which spread into Sub-Saharan Africa as a result.

What happened to Mali after the death of Mansa Musa?

In fewer than 100 years after Mansa Musa's death, the kingdom was declining. By the late 1400s, the Songhai Kingdom had taken its place as the powerhouse in West Africa. Following processes like those Mali had gone through, Songhai became larger and richer than Mali.

What was a long-term effect of Mansa Musa?

In spite of Mali's fall, Mansa Musa's efforts to strengthen Islam in West Africa succeeded: The religion has a prominent place in the region today.

The growth in trade and wealth gave rise to what? Give an example.

It gave rise to the need to administer and maintain the growth in trade and wealth. Rulers needed to establish a currency whose value was widely understood. In Mali, the currency was cowrie shells, cotton cloth, gold, glass beads, and salt. Rulers also needed to protect both the trade routes and the areas where their currencies were made or harvested or their other trade resources were produced. Sometimes empires expanded their reach to take over resource-rich areas. They did so with military forces well provisioned with horses and iron weapons bought with the tax revenue. With each expansion, more people were drawn into the empire's economy and trade networks, bringing more people in touch with distant cultures.

Describe ox.

Located in Eurasia and the Americas, they have high levels of stamina, can pull heaviest loads, are unlikely to stray or be stolen, can survive a local grazing, and can tolerate various climates and diets. They move slowly compared to other pack animals and require more water and food than other pack animals.

Describe llamas.

Located in the Americas, they maintain traction in mountains, have calm disposition, require little water, and adapt well to cold and mountainous climates. Though they cannot pull heavy loads, they carry less than other pack animals, and cannot tolerate high heat.

Describes horses.

Located worldwide, they can run at high speeds, can be controlled with a bit, can be used in battle, and can adapt to most climates and terrains. Though they need grain to keep fit, get spooked easily, can be stolen easily, can stray easily, are less sure-footed than other pack animals, and cannot tolerate high heat.

Who is Mansa Musa? Describe his backstory.

Mansa Musa is Sundiata's grand-nephew. In the 14th century, he brought more fame to the region; he was better known for his religious leadership than for his political or economic acumen. A devout Muslim, he began a pilgrimage in 1324 to Mecca, Islam's holiest city. His journey, however, was unlike that of any ordinary pilgrim. Mali's prosperity allowed him to take an extra ordinarily extravagant caravan to Arabia, consisting of 100 camels, thousands of slaves and soldiers, and gold to distribute to all of the people who hosted him along his journey. His pilgrimage displayed Mali's wealth to the outside world.

Who and from where traveled across the Sahara on camels? What is Arabia known as? What was native to Arabia? When and where did this thing first appear?

Muslim merchants from Southwest Asia; the Islamic heartland; camels; in the 3rd century B.C.E. in North Africa.

Who conducted trade across the Sahara? What led to the volume of trade increasing? What led to commerce expanding dramatically?

Nomadic communities; the arrival of Muslim merchants in the 7th and 8th centuries; when empires, such as Mali, took over the area in the early 1200s.

Who introduced what to Mali in the 9th century?

North African traders had introduced Islam to Mali.

As use of camel spread, what did people start developing? Describe the different types of this innovation.

People developed as many as 15 types of camel saddles for different purposes. South Arabians developed a saddle in which the rider sits in back of the hump, which makes riding easier because the rider can hold onto the hair of the hump. Northern Arabians developed a saddle for sitting on top of the hump, putting them high in the air, which gave them greater visibility in battles. Being near the head gave the rider the best possible control over the camel. The saddle that had the greatest impact on trade was one the Somalis in Eastern Africa developed. They were semi-nomadic and needed to carry their possessions with them, so they designed a saddle for carrying loads up to 600 pounds. Without the development of this types of saddle, camels could not have been used to carry heavy loads of goods in trade.

Who was Mali's founding ruler that became the subject of legend? Describe their backstory.

Sundiata; His father had ruled over a small society in West Africa in what today is Guinea. When his father died, rival groups invaded, killing most of the royal family and capturing the throne. They did not bother to kill Sundiata because the young prince was crippled and was not considered a threat. In spite of his injury, he learned to fight and became so feared as a warrior that his enemies forced him into exile. His time in exile only strengthened him and his allies. In 1235, Sundiata, "the Lion Prince," returned to the kingdom of his birth, defeated his enemies, and reclaimed the throne for himself. Sundiata's story made him beloved within his kingdom, but he was also an astute and capable ruler. Most scholars believe he was a Muslim and used his connections with others of his faith to establish trade relationships with North African and Arab merchants. Sundiata cultivated a thriving gold trade in Mali. under his steady leadership, Mali's wealth grew tremendously.

Describe the Sahara Desert.

The Sahara Desert is immense, occupying 3.6 million square miles, about the same size as China. Of that vast expanse of sand and rock, only about 800 square miles were oases, places where human settlement is possible because water from deep underground is brought to the surface, making land fertile. In some oases, the water comes form underground naturally. In others, humans have dug wells to access the water.

What are the main trade routes across the Sahara? How many are there? What did these routes benefit people?

There were seven north-south trade routes and two east-west routes. They put people in Sub-Saharan Africa in touch with an expanding number of cultures and trading partners.

What did merchants and traders use to facilitate commerce? What did Africans trade?

They used caravans; they traded gold, ivory, hides, and slaves for Arab and Berber salt, cloth, paper, and horses.

What job did most of Mali's residents have? What did they do?

They were farmers; they cultivated sorghum and rice.

What did caravans that crossed the Sahara often have?

Thousands of camels laden not only with goods to trade but also with enough provisions, including fresh water, to last until the travelers could reach the next oasis. The people leading the caravans generally walked the entire way.

What were two great cities that accumulated the most wealth and developed into centers of Muslim life in the region?

Timbuktu and Gao.

Describe Timbuktu.

Timbuktu became a world-renowned center of Islamic learning. By the 1500s, books created and sold in Timbuktu brought prices higher than most other goods.

In what ways did Mansa Musa's visit to Mecca deepen his devotion to Islam?

Upon his return, he established religious schools in Timbuktu, built mosques in Muslim trading cities, and sponsored those who wanted to continue their religious studies elsewhere. Though most West Africans continued to hold onto their traditional beliefs, Mansa Musa's reign deepened the support for Islam in Mali.

What happened by the 12th century? What happened after this event?

Wars with neighboring societies had permanently weakened the Ghanaian state; in its place arose several new trading societies, the most powerful of which was Mali.