Trans-Saharan and Mediterranean Trade Routes

Mali

A kingdom in West Africa whose wealth was based on trans-Saharan trade; this kingdom encouraged the spread of Islam.

Mansa Musa

Emperor of the kingdom of Mali in Africa. He made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca and established trade routes to the Middle East.

Timbuktu

City on the Niger River in the modern country of Mali. It became a major terminus of the trans-Saharan trade and a center of Islamic learning.

Jenne

A city that had a great mosque built there; it was a major center for iron-working and trade and a center for Islamic learning and scholarship

Mediterranean Trade Routes

Trade routes that traded grapes, wine, olives, olive oil, and mosaics from Europe to Northern Africa and the Middle East.

Alexandria, Egypt

One of the greatest cities that became a center of trade and learning; it had the greatest library in the world.