Trans-Saharan Trade Routes Flashcards

Flashcards about the Trans-Saharan Trade Routes

What technological advances facilitated Trans-Saharan trade?

Camel saddles and the dromedary camel revolutionized transportation, making desert travel more efficient.

What role did urban centers play in Trans-Saharan trade?

Timbuktu, Gao, Djenne, and Sijilmasa served as key hubs for trade, providing services to traders.

What were the primary goods exchanged in Trans-Saharan trade?

The exchange of gold from West Africa and salt from the Sahara drove the trade networks.

How did slavery and labor factor into Trans-Saharan trade?

Enslaved individuals were bought and sold, working in urban centers and on caravans.

How did Islamic influence affect Trans-Saharan trade?

Islamic merchants and scholars facilitated trade and fostered cultural exchange.

What cultural exchanges occurred through Trans-Saharan trade?

Knowledge, culture, and religion were exchanged alongside goods, connecting the Middle East and West Africa.

How did political stability impact Trans-Saharan trade?

Political stability and the rise of empires like Mali and the Almoravid Dynasty provided a secure trade environment.

How did traders navigate the Sahara Desert?

Skilled desert navigators guided traders through established routes across the Sahara.

What level of tolerance existed along the Trans-Saharan trade routes?

Cultural and religious tolerance allowed diverse traders to engage in trade.

How did the Trans-Saharan trade impact the Mali Empire's wealth and prosperity?

Control over gold, strategic location on trade routes, and allowed for investments in infrastructure and urban development, contributing to its wealth.

How did the Trans-Saharan trade contribute to cultural exchange in the Mali Empire?

The introduction of Islam through trade led to the spread of the religion, enriching Mali’s intellectual and cultural life.

How did Trans-Saharan trade affect urban growth in the Mali Empire?

Timbuktu and Gao thrived as trade hubs, attracting merchants, scholars, and travelers.

How did the control over Trans-Saharan trade routes increase political influence in the Mali Empire?

It provided wealth for alliances, territorial expansion, and controlling neighboring regions.

What was the impact of the infrastructure development that came from wealth generated by the Trans-Saharan trade in the Mali Empire?

It facilitated trade and travel, but also led to cultural adaptations.

What was the impact of cultural syncretism in the Mali Empire as a result of the Trans-Saharan trade?

Led to a mix of traditional African religious practices and Islamic beliefs.

What challenges did Mali face due to its dependence on Trans-Saharan trade?

Mali became vulnerable to disruptions in trade, shifts in trade routes, and internal power struggles, eventually leading to its decline.

Who was Mansa Musa?

He was a ruler of Mali, known for his pilgrimage to Mecca and immense wealth.

How did Mansa Musa come to power?

Mansa Musa came to power after the death of Abu-Bakr II, inheriting control of a vast and wealthy empire.

What made Mansa Musa so wealthy?

The Mali Empire became famous for its large gold reserves, making Mansa Musa one of the wealthiest individuals in history.

What was significant about Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca?

His pilgrimage to Mecca with thousands of people and an immense amount of gold left a lasting impression and demonstrated the empire's affluence.

What contributions did Mansa Musa make to the Mali Empire?

He promoted education, Islamic scholarship, and supported the construction of mosques and madrasas, including the Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu.

What was the economic impact of Mansa Musa's pilgrimage?

Musa's distribution of gold caused temporary inflation and demonstrated Mali's wealth to the world

What role did Timbuktu play during Mansa Musa's reign?

It became a center of trade, culture, and learning, attracting scholars and artists.

What factors contributed to the decline of the Malian Empire?

Internal conflicts and shifting trade routes weakened the Mali Empire, which led to the Songhai Empire's rise.

Who were the Songhai people?

They lived along the Niger River and the Gao region and expanded under Sonni Ali.

What military campaigns were undertaken by Sonni Ali?

Sonni Ali captured important cities and trade centers along the Niger River, including Timbuktu in 1468.

Why was control of trade routes important to the Songhai Empire?

It was critical for the empire’s growth and dominance, providing access to wealth.

How did Askia Muhammad I further expand the Songhai Empire?

Askia Muhammad I expanded the empire, implemented administrative reforms, and brought stability.

How did the Songhai Empire come to incorporate the Mali Empire?

They took control of key cities and absorbed former Mali territories.

What cultural and religious influences did the Songhai Empire absorb?

The Songhai Empire absorbed Islamic practices from Mali, and Timbuktu remained a center of Islamic scholarship.

How did the Songhai Empire gain wealth and prosperity?

The Songhai Empire controlled and profited from the exchange of gold and salt.

What was the impact of the spread of Islam in the Songhai Empire?

The Islamic influence can be seen in the architecture, education and governance of the Songhai Empire.

How did urban growth impact the Songhai Empire?

Major cities flourished as trade hubs, attracting merchants, scholars, and travelers.

How did the Songhai Empire improve infrastructure using trade wealth?

Wealth from trade was invested in roads and bridges to facilitate trade and communication.

What challenges did the Songhai Empire face despite its prosperity?

Internal struggles and shifts in trade routes led to vulnerabilities and conflicts within the Songhai Empire.

How did Timbuktu emerge as a trading hub by the 13th century?

Strategic location on trade routes, wealth from rulers, and prominence as a trading hub.

What was the impact of the Mali Empire's rulers on Timbuktu during the 13th Century?

The Mali Empire’s rulers brought wealth and prestige to Timbuktu.

Why did Timbuktu become a scholarly and cultural center?

Scholars, poets, and writers from across the Islamic world contributed to its reputation as a great city of knowledge.

How did Islamic faith influence Timbuktu?

Many mosques and religious institutions that led to trade and Islamic study

What characterized Timbuktu's architecture?

It was known for its unique mud-brick structures, including mosques and mausoleums like the Djinguereber Mosque.

What was the economic importance of Timbuktu during this period?

Timbuktu was a primary marketplace for gold and salt, contributing to its economic prosperity.

What kind of cultural exchanged occurred in Timbuktu.

Berbers, Arabs, and West African ethnic groups were among the many cultures that interacted in the city.

How did Trans-Saharan trade routes contribute to the spread of Islam into West Africa?

Muslim traders introduced Islam to West African societies along these routes.

How did Berber and Arab traders help spread Islam?

They shared Islamic culture and religion with the people they encountered.

How did Urban Centers influence the spread of Islam into West Africa?

Hosted mosques, madrasas, and scholars, contributing to the dissemination of Islamic Knowledge.

How did the conversion of rulers influence the spread of Islam into West Africa?

Often led to the adoption of Islam by their subjects.

What was the impact of intermarriage and cultural exchange relating to the spread of Islam into West Africa?

Interactions led to the gradual acceptance of Islamic practices and beliefs.

What role did Islamic Missionaries influence the spread of Islam into West Africa?

Islamic Missionaries traveled to remote regions, often living among local communities, teaching Islamic Principles ,and facilitating conversions.

How are camels adapted to desert life?

They could withstand extreme temperatures and endure long periods without water.

Why were camels useful for the transport of goods?

They could carry heavy loads like gold, salt, ivory, and textiles.

What were camel caravans?

Caravans consisting of numerous camels transported goods and people across the Sahara.

What was the economic impact of using camels as transportation?

It allowed for the movement of commodities from areas of abundance to areas of need.

What were camel caravanserais?

Offered lodging where travelers and their camels could rest, obtain food and water, and seek shelter from the elements.

What was the salt-gold trade?

It revolved around the exchange of salt from North Africa and gold from West Africa.

What complementary resources were traded and why?

Salt was scarce in West Africa, while gold was abundant.

Why was gold from West Africa so important?

West Africa was known for its deposits of gold, valued in various forms.

Why was salt from North Africa so important?

North Africa had limited sources of salt, crucial for food preservation.

What trade routes were established for the salt and gold trade?

Caravans traversed the Sahara Desert, connecting trading centers in North and West Africa.

Why were Camels essential for the salt and gold trade?

Camels were well-suited for long journeys through the challenging desert landscapes.

How did cultural and intellectual exchange influence the salt and gold trade trade?

Ideas, knowledge, and religious beliefs, such as Islam, spread as people and Caravans traveled, contributing to the cultural diversity and richness of the region.

How did wealth and Empires emerge as a result of the salt-gold trade?

The Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire, and the Songhai Empire increased wealth due to this trade.