Trans-Saharan Trade
Learning Objective
I can analyze the economic and cultural impacts of the Trans-Saharan trade routes.
Key Concepts
In ancient West Africa, salt was a precious commodity, sometimes literally worth its weight in gold, and traded for goods like ivory, hides, and copper.
The Berbers of North Africa used camel caravans to transport salt across the Sahara Desert, acting as middlemen between North and West Africa.
Empires like the Ghana, Mali, and Songhai Empires controlled the salt trade, with mines like Taghaza and Taoudenni being major sources of salt.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 12 practice questions to reinforce learning.
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1. What made salt such a valuable commodity in ancient West Africa?
2. Which group facilitated much of the early Trans-Saharan salt trade?
3. Describe two non-economic impacts of the Trans-Saharan trade.
...and 9 more questions
Educational Video
The History of the West African Salt Trade
World History Encyclopedia