What did the Sahara desert trade?

What did the Sahara desert trade?

Much gold was traded through the Sahara desert to the countries on the North African coast. Other items that were commonly traded included ivory, kola nuts, cloth, metal goods, beads, and also human beings in the slave trade.

What was salt used for in the Sahara desert?

In the Sahara desert, salt was the standard currency throughout the Middle Ages. Arab travelers on their way to Timbuktu report seeing an entire town with houses made of salt. The walls were slabs of salt dug from a local mine and the roofs were camel skins.

Why did they trade salt in Africa?

The people who lived in the desert of North Africa could easily mine salt, but not gold. They craved the precious metal that would add so much to their personal splendor and prestige. These mutual needs led to the establishment of long-distance trade routes that connected very different cultures.

What are two ways of obtaining salt in the Sahara?

What are two ways of obtaining salt in the Sahara? (Mining and evaporation.)

Why was the salt trade of the Sahara desert so important in African history?

Why did trade began across the Sahara desert?

Why did trade begin across the Sahara Desert? They found goods such as horses and camels and realized that there was trade to be done in Sub-Saharan Africa. Because they now had access to camels as well as the technology of stirrups and saddles, trade was possible and therefore it ensued.

What was traded on the salt road?

The Old Salt Route was a medieval trade route in Northern Germany, one of the ancient network of salt roads which were used primarily for the transport of salt and other staples.

Who traded ivory and salt on the Silk Road?

The Silk Road was a network of trade routes connecting China and the Far East with the Middle East and Europe through which Chinese silk, salt, sugar, spices, ivory, jade, fur and other luxury goods were traded. The Silk Road covered a distance of 4,000 miles (6,437 km) and connected more than 40 countries.

When was salt traded for gold in West Africa?

When Salt Was Traded for Gold: The Salt Trade of West Africa that Built Kingdoms and Spread Culture. In West Africa during the Medieval period, salt was traded for gold. This may seem astonishing as salt is a cheap commodity in today’s society. It may be added that salt is easily available today which was not the case in ancient times.

Why was salt so important in the Sahara Desert?

A human necessity and source of commerce, salt has been in high demand in West Africa since the 12th century when it was first found in the sand dunes of the desert. Its discovery gave rise to a robust commodity trade that quickly paved a near-mythical trail connecting Timbuktu with Europe, southern Africa, and Persia.

Where does the Saharan salt trade take place?

Saharan Salt Trade. Salt is produced in the Sahara (and has been for over 2½ thousand years-mentioned by Herodotus) at several places. It is mined from underground (solid blocks hewn from around 8 metres below the surface) at Taoudenni and it is made by evaporation in the region around Fachi and Bilma in the Ténéré desert.

Why was the salt trade important to the Berbers?

The salt trade was valuable to food preservation. Around the 5th century AD, the use of camels allowed Berber-speaking peoples to cross the Sahara Desert. By the 8th century AD, trade was flowing between the Saharan and sub-Saharan regions of West Africa, as caravans traveled between the two on an annual basis.