Between the 7th and 20th centuries, the arab slave trade also known as slavery in the east took 18 million slaves from africa via transsaharan and indian ocean routes. Saharan peoples and societies oxford research encyclopedia. Before the trans saharan trade ghanaians remembered their history and stories through oral literature. The arab slave trade is the intersection of slavery and trade surrounding the arab world and indian ocean, mainly in western and central asia, northern and eastern africa, india, and europe.
The trade was between people of the western sudan and arabs from north africa. As a major terminal in the gold, salt, and slave trade of the transsaharan trade route, it flourished for several centuries. It could preserve food so it could last a year without spoiling. Specialized metal products especially tin were the primary commodities exchanged within and beyond the niger region ogundiran, 2005, 7. Intraregional trade in subsaharan africa english the. During the heyday of camel caravan trafficfrom the eighth century ce arrival of islam in north africa to the early twentiethcentury building of european colonial railroads that linked the sudan with the atlanticthe sahara was one of the worlds great commercial highways, bringing gold, slaves, and other commodities northward and sending both manufactured goods and mediterranean culture. Timbuktu was not the only city or region to adopt islam as a result of the trade route.
At the same time, the tuaregs changed their role from. As we work to protect malis cultural heritage for posterity, it is heartening to be part of a project that has at its essence a declaration. Types of slavery in africa and the world today share flipboard email print. The transsaharan commodity trade presented by christopher rose hemispheres summer teachers institute 2003 june 9, 2003 why discuss the transsaharan trade as part of a workshop dealing with issues of food, cultural contact, and migration. Trades were even, ounce for ounce an ounce of gold for an ounce of salt. Trade between two traders is called bilateral trade, while trade involving more than two traders is called multilateral trade. Delafosse 1924, which traces the historical links between morocco and mali, is a reminder that some researchers paid no head to the scholarly divide between north africa and socalled subsaharan africa that presented the sahara as a barrier to. Transsaharan trade requires travel across the sahara north and south to reach subsaharan africa from the north african coast, europe, to the levant. Slaves were also hunted like animals and taken against their will by the european traders. State the role of tuaregs in the transsaharan trade. Transsaharan trade and the west african discovery of the mediterranean world. The slave trade used the trade routes developed in the atlantic ocean.
The archeological evidence for islam, and its connection to the transsaharan trade route, is found in two areas in particular. Reasons for the development of the transsaharan trade. The desert is a geographical barrier which requires complex organisation to cross those who crossed it laid the foundations of some of the most important states in west african. Sub saharan africa consists of the sahel and the horn of africa in the north yellow, the tropical savannas light green and the tropical rainforests dark green of equatorial africa, and the arid kalahari basin yellow and the mediterranean south coast olive of southern africa. Grade 7 history notes term 2 history grade 7 term 2 2017. The whole process of the trans saharan trade has many challenges and is very dangerous, with little food and water, hard work by camels, and difficulty selling goods for a fair price. Cause and effect of the ancient transsaharan trade in west africa edice hua ancient african civilizations hist12521. Documenting precolonial trade in africa oxford research. Trans saharan trade was the transit of goods between sub saharan africa and the northern arab and european worlds.
Transsaharan slave trade was conducted within the ambits of the trans saharan trade, otherwise referred to as the arab trade. 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. This report proposes an agenda to overcome the obstacles that have contributed to the stagnation at a. With an economy built on the basis of the transsaharan trade, the mali empire was the largest and longest lasting kingdom in the history of west africa. Slaves were often bought from african slave traders. Central sudan served as a kind of trading bridge between songhai in the west and darfur in the east. This 2009 study is the first of its kind to examine the history and organization of transsaharan trade in western africa using original source material. Transsaharan trade simple english wikipedia, the free. While existing from prehistoric times, the peak of trade extended from the 8th century until the early 17th century.
Why discuss the transsaharan trade as part of a workshop dealing with. Sometimes it would be extremely hot during the day and extremely cold in the night. The transsaharan trade led to an exchange of salt for gold. Saharan gold trade amazing bible timeline with world history. Trans saharan and indian ocean essay example graduateway. Carthage a republic ruled by an aristocracy based on. What are the challenges for the caravans on the trans saharan trade and how do these impact their business. 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. Transsaharan gold trade 7th century14th century the shaded portion of this map indicates the empire of mali in the fourteenth century, and the dashed lines trace the main transsaharan routes of the period. Government revenue came from tribute or booty, if the recalcitrant people had to be conquered, sales of slaves, and duties on and participation in trans saharan trade. Discuss the organization of the trans saharan trade. The trade became popular from the 8th century until the late 16th century. Gold, sought from the western and central sudan, was the main commodity of the transsaharan trade.
People traded were not limited to a certain race, ethnicity, or religion. The trade was conducted through slave markets in these areas, with the slaves captured mostly from africas interior. The transsaharan gold trade 7th14th century essay the. Camel caravans carried such goods as salt, cloth, and metalware south from.
Still, it was central to one of the most convenient trans saharan routes. Doc cause and effect of the ancient transsaharan trade in. The impact of the trans saharan trade the trans saharan. The trans saharan trade routes affected many things, both positively and negatively. The business of buying and selling commodities, products, or services.
Transsaharan trade, conducted across the sahara desert, was a web of commercial interactions between the arab world north africa and. Transsaharan slave trade history of world civilization ii. Pdf a historical geography of the transsaharan trade. 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. Niger definition and meaning collins english dictionary. The significance of scholarly networks and transsaharan trade to the spread of islamic knowledge and arabic lit eracy in the region cannot be underestimated. Between the 15th and the 19th centuries, the atlantic slave trade took an estimated 712 million slaves to the new world. These books were valued as much as salt and salt, being then a rare commodity, was valued as much as gold gates 112. Still, remarkably few have assessed the significance of this longdistance trade system to the cultural, political, religious, and, especially. 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. It involves transfer or exchange of goods and services for money or moneys worth. Gold is one of the most expensive commodities and one of the most soughtafter rocks in human history. Most archaeological work has targeted trading centers and staging posts associated with wellknown trade routes e.
Stay connected to your students with prezi video, now in microsoft teams. They also went as far as britain, where they traded for tin from the cornish mines. They founded settlements on the west african coast in senegal and guinea. I dont know about west africa in particular, but i can tell you about the effects in general. The continent is surrounded by the mediterranean sea to the north.
Transsaharan africa in world history hardcover ralph. The great mali empire, mansa musa, and the saharan trade. The goods being traded along this route are simple. Social and economic impact of the transsaharan trade in. Jun 20, 2019 what is certain is that africans, like other people throughout the world, have been subjected to several forms of slavery over the centuries, including chattel slavery under both the muslims with the trans saharan slave trade and europeans through the trans atlantic slave trade. Transsaharan slave trade was conducted within the ambits of the transsaharan trade, otherwise referred to as the arab trade. This section lists publications that provide broad historical and cultural contexts for understanding trans saharan trade. The sub saharan world joined the global tapestry via this trade route. Social and economic impact of the transsaharan trade in africa north and south of the sahara.
Blake, west africa a search for god and gold 14541578 london. Reasons for the development of the trans saharan trade availability of trade items, use of camels as. Their wealth was built on trade in products got from tropical africa across the sahara. Long distance trade trade between people from different locations or different ethnic groups ex. The manufacturers or producer produces the goods, then moves on to the wholesaler, then to retailer and finally to the ultimate consumer. The transsaharan trade route linked north africa and the mediterranean world with the land and peoples of interior west africa. Doc cause and effect of the ancient transsaharan trade. It should be noted that the transsaharan trade continued to be important into the 19 th and even the 20 th century, as the continuing trade and human traffic shows. What effects did the transsaharan trade have on west africa. It was the difference between life and death because it absorbed water and stopped bacteria from growing. 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. The complex network of medieval and early modern caravan routes 8th to 19th century, within which the transsaharan book trade flourished, is reconstructed from literary and archaeological sources. The culture and kingdoms of west africa bringdajuice.
What are the challenges for the caravans on the trans. This trade was conducted between the north african traders and their counterparts in west africa. Mysteries, and historical significance, international journal of african historical studies 23 1990. This is the form of slavery which was carried out in the americas as a result of the transatlantic slave trade. The trade led to the decline of empires such as ancient ghana and mali while others such as songhai emerged. It should be noted that the trans saharan trade continued to be important into the 19 th and even the 20 th century, as the continuing trade and human traffic shows. It profoundly influenced the culture of the region through the spread of its language, laws and customs along the niger river, which ran through the heart of the empire. The trans saharan trade played an important role in the rise of states in the senegambia region and the western sudan, in general. Nov 11, 2014 social and economic impact of the trans saharan trade in africa north and south of the sahara. Youll analyze texts, visual sources, and other historical evidence and write essays expressing historical arguments. Sudanic rather than sudanese is defined throughout this discussion not as.
Environmental variations north african coast cloth, glassware, weapons, books, and manufactured goods sahara desert copper and salt sweet and nutritious dates at its oases. For the trans saharan the two major resources traded were salt from the mediterranean and gold from western africa. The transsaharan trade played an important role in the rise of states in the senegambia region and the western sudan, in general. It profoundly influenced the culture of the region through the spread of its language, laws and customs along the niger river, which ran through the heart of. Transsaharan trade was when people traveled across the sahara to reach subsaharan africa from the north african coast, europe, or 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 ancient saharan trade routes linked sub saharan african peoples with the peoples of the maghreb, europe, and the levant. Identify the role of tuaregs in the transsaharan trade. Tuaregs watered the camels and horses used by the traders 4. This section lists publications that provide broad historical and cultural contexts for understanding transsaharan trade.
Students will begin the lesson by brainstorming the word slavery. They guided and provided security to traders in the desert. Because of the trading, the transsaharan cities could grow. The existing trade was one of great complexity and enormous vitality. Trans saharan and indian ocean not only used trade to spread islam but also wealth. Although the transsaharan trade caused the change discussed above, other aspects of subsaharan culture became so stable over the centuries that the area was isolated from the rest of the world that exposure to other peoples did not alter them. A plural society can be defined as one in which more than one religion is allowed. Chances are you know someone with flashy gold jewelry, or maybe even a.
Jul 23, 2015 trans saharan slave trade was conducted within the ambits of the trans saharan trade, otherwise referred to as the arab trade. Take your hr comms to the next level with prezi video. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The economic organization of the transsaharan slave trade. Transsaharan trade routes by rebecca hamilton on prezi. Go to ap central for resources for teachers, administrators, and coordinators. Cause and effect of the ancient trans saharan trade in west africa edice hua ancient african civilizations hist12521. I can locate places on a map and read the map key to identify features on the map. The trade led to development of urbanisation for example towns such as gao, timbuktu and jenne. Trans saharan trade increased dramatically in the first centuries c.
Transsaharan trade african studies oxford bibliographies. Sources are limited on this route compared to the others ibn battuta was the first person to go from north of the sahara and back and write about it and he died in 69. After a brief discussion, student led groups will examine either the transatlantic or transsaharan slave trade. As common as salt may seem to modern people, it was a prized commodity in seventh century ghana empire which encompassed not just ghana but also presentday senegal, mali, and the southern part of mauritania where it was exchanged for moreabundant gold. Transsaharan trade requires travel across the sahara north and south to reach sub saharan africa from the north african coast, europe, to the levant. Saharan trade in antiquity was organised around a set of drivers that were very different from those of the medieval trans saharan trade, with a key role played by the development of a substantial. The current focus on the possible role of shifting transsaharan trade routes on the decline of garamantes civilization recalls a paradigm long associated with the broader history of the saharanamely, that the desert entered both african and global history in the wake of transsaharan commerce, which itself correlated closely with the.
After a brief discussion, student led groups will examine either the transatlantic or trans saharan slave trade. Architecture of the subsaharan civilizations boundless. Transsaharan trade between the 300s and the late 1500s ce, in the grasslands regions of west africa rose at least three successive empires built on tradeghana, mali, and songhai. Medieval africa as a cultural force is subject of major. Trade refers to buying and selling of goods and services for money or moneys worth. The trade was focused on the slave markets of the middle east, north africa and the horn of africa. Although the trans saharan trade has not been as thoroughly researched as that of the silk road or the indian ocean, its historical importance is. Transsaharan trade was the transit of goods between subsaharan africa and the northern arab and european worlds. This endeavor promotes and disseminates understanding of the history of mali and its central role in transsaharan trade, which for centuries has been a source of malian prosperity and influence. In libya and algeria, from at least 7000 bc, there was pastoralism, the. The impact of the transsaharan trade the transsaharan trade had several consequences. It documents the internal dynamics of a trade network system based on a case study of berber traders from the wa d nan region, who specialized in outfitting camel caravans in the. Unlike west africa, the chadian region did not have gold. While ghana was an integral part of the early transsaharan trade, neither it nor any other.
Long and tiring journey in the desert, scarcity of resources and extreme weather condition. The trans saharan traders were faced with various challenges. The transsaharan trade was a twoway exchange between subsaharan regions and the north. Most of the historical controversy about earlier transsaharan trade centers around. Transsaharan definition, a desert in n africa, extending from the atlantic to the nile valley. Upon completion of the lesson, students will be able to. The other, the sahara desert, became a major highway of trade along with political and. Delafosse 1924, which traces the historical links between morocco and mali, is a reminder that some researchers paid no head to the scholarly divide between north africa and socalled sub saharan africa that presented the sahara as a barrier to. Intraregional trade in subsaharan africa english abstract. Thereafter, the gold trade was the centrepiece of the transsaharan trade. Men called griots would spend their lives memorizing the. Africa is the worlds secondlargest and secondmost populous continent, after asia.
The trade was also used to transport slaves and food to different places. A biography of the continent, states, ancient ghana was the first source of west african gold to be exploited by the transsaharan trade 286. Saharan trade was a twoway exchange between subsaharan regions and the north. With an economy built on the basis of the trans saharan trade, the mali empire was the largest and longest lasting kingdom in the history of west africa. These three empires built their wealth on the northsouth transsaharan trade. Before contact with european traders on the coastline, trade in between precolonial african regions and with mediterranean communities was often done so through the trans saharan trade routes. In one modern view, trade exists due to specialization and the division of labor, a predominant form of economic activity in which individuals and groups concentrate on a small aspect of production, but use their.
Study the cultural, economic, political, and social developments that have shaped the world from c. 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. History what were the impacts of transsaharan trade. This barter occurred chiefly between the medieval era and the early 20th century. 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.
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