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Trans-Saharan Trade
Trade across the Sahara Desert connecting Africa and Asia.
Ibn Battuta
14th-century Muslim scholar and explorer documenting trade.
Cowry-shells
Currency used for trade in Mali and Timbuktu.
Mali Empire
West African empire that expanded trade in the 1200s.
Caravans
Groups of merchants traveling together for trade.
Oases
Fertile areas in the desert where water is available.
Camels
Pack animals suited for desert travel and trade.
Camel saddles
Various designs developed for different riding purposes.
Somali saddle
Saddle designed to carry loads up to 600 pounds.
Gold
Most valuable commodity traded in the Trans-Saharan routes.
Salt
Essential trade good brought by foreign traders to Africa.
Ivory
Luxury item traded by West African merchants.
Slaves
Human labor traded alongside goods in the Sahara.
Textiles
Fabric goods exchanged for African resources in trade.
Horses
Valuable animals traded for African gold and ivory.
Sahara Desert
Largest hot desert, spanning 3.6 million square miles.
Trade routes
Paths connecting different cultures and trading partners.
Nomadic communities
Groups that moved frequently, conducting limited trade.
Merchants
Individuals engaged in buying and selling goods.
C.E.
Common Era; used to denote years in history.
Ghadamas
City from which caravans traveled across the Sahara.
West Africa
Region rich in resources, key to trans-Saharan trade.
Senegal River
Source of gold for West African merchants.
Cultural exchange
Interaction between different societies through trade.
700 years
Duration of significant wealth from trans-Saharan trade.
trans-Saharan trade
A trade network that brought wealth to West African societies and spread Islam into Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ghana
An early West African kingdom that was weakened by wars with neighboring societies by the 12th century.
Mali
A powerful trading society that arose after Ghana, known for its wealth from the gold trade and taxation of other trades.
Timbuktu
A great city in Mali that became a world-renowned center of Islamic learning and accumulated significant wealth.
Gao
Another wealthy city in Mali that developed into a center of Muslim life in the region.
Sundiata
The founding ruler of Mali, known for his legendary story of overcoming adversity and establishing trade relationships.
Mansa Musa
Sundiata's grand-nephew who brought fame to Mali through his extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324.
cowrie shells
The currency used in Mali, alongside cotton cloth, gold, glass beads, and salt.
Islam
A religion that spread into West Africa through trade and was supported by rulers like Mansa Musa.
Songhai Kingdom
A powerful kingdom that emerged in West Africa after the decline of Mali, becoming larger and richer.
Mecca
Islam's holiest city, which Mansa Musa visited during his pilgrimage.
Islamic learning
The study and dissemination of knowledge related to Islam, particularly prominent in Timbuktu.
trade routes
Paths established for the exchange of goods, which needed protection and administration by rulers.
gold trade
A significant economic activity in Mali that contributed to its wealth and prosperity.
pilgrimage
A journey to a sacred place, such as Mansa Musa's journey to Mecca.
military forces
Armies that empires used to expand their reach and protect trade routes.
cultural exchange
The interaction and sharing of ideas and traditions between different cultures, facilitated by trade.
Arab merchants
Traders from North Africa who established trade relationships with Mali.
traditional beliefs
Local spiritual practices that many West Africans continued to hold onto despite the spread of Islam.
extravagant caravan
The lavish group of 100 camels and thousands of slaves and soldiers that Mansa Musa took to Mecca.
religious schools
Institutions established by Mansa Musa in Timbuktu to promote Islamic education.
mosques
Places of worship built by Mansa Musa in Muslim trading cities.
cultural legacy
The lasting impact of Mali's trade and Islamic influence in West Africa.
