2.4: Trans-Saharan Trade Routes
When did Mali peak?
1200s to 1400s
When was Mansa Musa's pilgrimage?
1324
When did Byzantine Empire peak?
330 to 1453
When did Al-Andalus peak?
711 to 1492
When did Kievan Rus peak?
900s to 1200s
Give an example of how Timbuktu was a center of learning.
By the 1500s, books created & sold in Timbuktu brought prices higher than most other goods.
Give 1 vocab word that describes technology in pack animals.
Camel saddle
Define *Timbuktu*.
Center of learning & trade in Mali
What was a major city of Byzantine Empire?
Constantinople
Describe on hump saddle.
Created by North Arabians - higher gives people more visibility n battle & have more control over animals
Describe Somali saddle.
Created by Somalis in East Africa - best for trading because it helps carries possessions (up to 600 pounds)
Describe back of hump saddle.
Created by South Arabians - riding is easier & can hold on to hair of hump
What was a major city of Al-Andalus?
Córdoba
Define *Songhai Kingdom*.
Defeated the Mali kingdom near the late 1400s and eventually became richer & larger than Mali.
Define *Sahara Desert*.
Desert located in Africa that was fairly inhabited due to the arid climate making it nearly impossible to farm.
Define *Arabian Desert*.
Desert located in the Arabian Peninsula where camels originated.
Which types of Africans converted to Islam?
Elites in West Africa
What areas used the ox?
Eurasia & Americas
Most of Mali's residents were of what profession? (HINT: agriculture)
Farmers - cultivated sorghum & rice
What was the first empire in West Africa? When did it take off?
Ghana - 11th century
What was the most precious commodity traded?
Gold
What did Mansa Musa spend a lot of his journey on? What was the effect?
Gold - runaway inflation through city that took years to recover from
What 2 things led to to the Mali government to become so profitable?
Gold trade & taxing other trade entering West Africa
What items would camels carry along the trans-Saharan trade routes?
Goods to trade & provisions (such as water)
Describe Sundiata's father.
He ruled over a small society in West Africa in modern-day Guinea.
Describe Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca.
He used an extravagant caravan consisting of 100 camels, thousands of slaves, soldiers, and distrusted gold to display Mali's wealthy.
Which famous Muslim traveler visited Mali?
Ibn Battuta
Explain the causes and effects of the growth of trans-Saharan trade (#2).
Improved transportation technologies & commercial practices led to an increased volume of trade & expanded the geographical range of existing trade routes, including the trans-Saharan trade network.
Define *Mecca*.
Islam's holiest city that Muslims must make a pilgrimage towards once in their lifetimes
From what region are camels native?
Islamic heartland (Arabia)
What caused Saharan trade to increase during the 13th and 14th centuries?
Islamic merchants (who arrived in 7th and 8th centuries)
Define *Mali*.
Islamic west African empire with localized government that grew rich through trade
What was a major city of Kievan Rus?
Kiev
Which West African Empire did Mansa Musa rule over?
Mali
Give an example of how a common currency is established by rulers throughout an expanding state.
Mali - used cowrie shells, cotton cloth, gold, glass beads, & salt
Define *Sundiata*.
Mali's founding ruler known as the "Lion Prince" that helped Mali flourish by building a strong trade network, which was believed to be based off of Islamic connections
What region was Byzantine Empire located?
Middle East (Turkey)
How did empires in Africa expand their?
Military force well provisioned with horses and iron weapons bought with tax revenue.
What did Mansa Musa build in Mali after he returned from Mecca?
Mosques
How was Islam introduced to Mali?
North African traders
Which areas used the camel?
Northern Africa & Sub-Saharan West Africa
Describe the size of the Sahara Desert.
Occupies 3.6 million square miles - about the same size as China
How was much of African history preserved?
Oral rather than written tradition
Define *oases*.
Places where human settlement is possible because water from deep underground is brought to the surface, making land fertile. In some, humans may have dug wells to access water.
Define *Mansa Musa*.
Political & religious ruler of Mali that was known for his pilgrimage to Mecca and showing off his vast amount of gold & other resources.
What was the impact of the trans-Saharan trade routes?
Provided both incentive & resources for construction of new, larger political structures (kingdoms)
What region was Kievan Rus located?
Russia
Give 2 vocab words that describe environment in Africa.
Sahara Desert & oases
What did the Babur offer? What did they get in exchange?
Salt for African gold
What is another name for the trans-Saharan trade routes?
Sand Roads
What region was Al-Andalus located?
Spain
What does "Mansa" mean?
Sultan
Who was Mali's founding ruler?
Sundiata
What happened in 1235?
Sundiata returned to the kingdom of his birth, defeated his enemies, and reclaimed the throne by himself.
Who was Mansa Musa?
Sundiata's grand-nephew who was known for his religious leadership as a devout Muslim.
What type of civilization was on the eastern shore of Africa?
Swahili civilization - collection of city-states like Zanzibar, Mombasa, Mogadishu, Kilwa
Define *camel saddle*.
Technology introduced to trans-Saharan trade used for different purposes; main one is Somali saddle used for carrying heavy supplies
Explain how the expansion of empires influenced trade & communication over time.
The expansion of empires - including Mali in West Africa - facilitated Afro-Eurasian trade and communication as new people were drawn into the economies and trade networks.
How did expanding trade lead to an expanding government in Mali?
The growth in trade & wealth gave rise to need to administer & maintain it. - common currency - protect trade routes & areas where currencies & trade resources are made/harvest/produced
Explain the causes and effects of the growth of trans-Saharan trade (#1).
The growth of interregional trade was encouraged by innovations in existing transportation technologies. TECHNOLOGIES: *camel saddle*, *caravans*
Why were camels easy to adapt to the trans-Saharan trade routes?
They are accustomed to harsh, dry climate of Arabian Desert. They can consume large gallons of water at one time (50 gal. In 3 min.) and do't need water for long time.
Why did the Somalis create the Somali saddle?
They were semi-nomadic & needed to carry heavy possessions.
What was a major city of Mali?
Timbuktu
What was the largest city in the empire of Mali?
Timbuktu
Give 2 vocab words that describe culture in Islam.
Timbuktu & Mecca
Define *trans-Saharan trade*.
Trade that occurred in the Saharan desert that experienced great technological innovations (e.g. camel saddle), exchange of resources (e.g. gold, salt), & cultural exchange (e.g. introduction of Islam).
Give 1 vocab word that describes economics in trade.
Trans-Saharan trade
How was Islam introduced to us-Saharan Africa?
Trans-Saharan trade
The people leading the caravans generally (rode/walked) the entire way.
Walked
What contributed to the downfall of Ghana?
Wars with neighboring cities
Where did West Africa merchants acquire metal?
Waters of Senegal River (near Senegal & Mauritania)
What region was Mali located?
West Africa
Describe how cultural exchange could occur due to expanding empires.
With each expansion, more people were drawn into the empire's economy and trade networks, bringing more people in touch with distant cultures.
What areas used the horse?
Worldwide
What were Timbuktu & Gao?
great cities during Mali Empire that accumulated the most wealth & developed into centers of Islamic learning
Describe the trade routes in the trans-Saharan trade.
• 7 north-south routes • 2 east-west routes
Name 3 major West Africa kingdoms and when they occurrred.
• Ghana - 11th century (1000) • Mali - 14th century (1300) • Songhai - 15th century (1400)
Who were 2 key figures in Al-Andalus?
• IBN RUSHD: Islamic legal scholar & philosopher MAIMONIDES: Jewish scholar of ethics
Who were 2 key figures in Byzantine Empire?
• JUSTINIAN: ruler responsible for the "Body of Civil Law" • HERACLIUAS: shifted focus to the East
Give 4 vocab words that describe government in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Mali • Sundiata • Mansa Musa • Songhai Kingdom
Who were 2 key figures in Mali?
• SUNDIATA: founder who built a strong trade network • MANSA MUSA: political & religious leader
Who were 2 key figures in Kievan Rus?
• VLADIMIR I: converted to Christianity in 989 • YAROSLAV I: codified the legal system
What are some drawbacks of the llama?
• can't pull heavy loads • carries less than other animals • can't tolerate high heat
Describe the legacy of Mali.
• connected West And North Africa through trade • spread Islam in West Africa
Describe the legacy of Al-Andalus.
• created vibrant, tolerant society • preserved Classical Greek learning
Describe the legacy of Kievan Rus.
• developed first large civilization in Russia • spread Christianity eastward
Describe the legacy of Byzantine Empire.
• fostered trade between Asia, Europe, and Africa • carried on Roman legacy
What were the benefits of the ox?
• high stamina level • pull heaviest loads • unlikely to stray/be stolen • survive on local grazing • tolerates various climates & diets
What were the benefits of the llama?
• maintains traction in mountains • calm disposition • requires little water • adapts well to cold/mountainous climates
What are some drawbacks of the ox?
• moves slowly compared to other animals • Ned's more water & food than other animals
What are some drawbacks of the horse?
• need gain to be healthy • spooks easily • stolen easily • strays easily • less sure-footed than other animals • can't tolerate high heat
What are some drawbacks of the camel?
• needs high level of salt to be healthy • very aggressive & vengeful sometimes • can't be controlled with bit • can't be boarded in stall
Describe how Islam impacted Mali Empire during Mansa Musa's rule.
• religious schools in Timbuktu • mosques in trading cities • sponsored religious studies elsewhere
Where were the benefits of the horse?
• run at high speeds • controlled with bit • used in battle • adapt to most climates & terrains
What were the benefits of the camel?
• travel long distances • eat thorny plants & drink salty water • long eyelashes protect against desert winds • only animal that can cross desert • doesn't spook easily • carry up to 600 lb.
How did Sundiata expand Mali's influence and wealth?
• used his Islamic faith to establish trade relationships with North African & Arab merchants • cultivated thriving gold trade in Mali.
Describe Sundiata's past.
After his father died, rival groups invaded and killed most of the royal family to capture the throne. Sundiata wasn't killed because he was too young & crippled, seemingly not considered a threat. However, he learned how to fight and became feared, so was forced into exile. This only strengthened him and his allies. Heh returned in 1235 as the "Lion Prince" to reclaim his throne.
What areas used the llama?
Americas
Give 1 vocab word that describes environment in Southwest Asia.
Arabian Desert.
Why have so few societies inhabited the Sahara Desert?
Arid climate made it early impossible to farm (no food)
