HISTORY

Trade across the sahara desert was known as the trans-Saharan trade

Good traded from across the Sahara:

From North America in Europe

  • Salt

  • Cloth and textiles

  • Metal goods

  • Beads

  • Horses

From west Africa:

  • Gold

  • Ivory

  • Slaves

  • Ostrich feathers

Gold is extremely valuable while salt is important for preserving food

Caramel caravans

camels were main form of transport because they were suited to the desert

Why camels were useful

They could survive long periods without water

Carry heavy loads

Could travel long distances

Wide feet prevented sinking into sand

Long Eyelashes protected eyes from blowing sand

This spread of Islam

Islam spread from North Africa to west Africa through traders

Muslim traders introduced:

  • Islamic religion

  • Arabic language

  • New ideas about education and government knowledge about the world such as solar system, maths

    many rulers of Mali became Muslim including mansa musa

The Kingdom of Mali Under Mansa Musa

Mansa Musa was the most famous ruler of Mali.

He ruled during the early 14th century when Mali was at the height of its power and wealth.

Important facts about Mansa Musa:

  • One of the richest rulers in history

  • Expanded Mali’s trade and influence

  • Encouraged education and religion

  • Built mosques and schools

Mansa Musa’s Pilgrimage to Mecca

Mansa Musa went on a pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca in 1324.

During the journey:

  • He travelled with thousands of followers

  • He carried large amounts of gold

  • He gave gold to poor people along the route

  • He brought back scholars, architects, and ideas from the Middle East

His pilgrimage made Mali famous throughout Africa and the Middle East.

The Great Mosque and Islamic Architecture

Mansa Musa helped build important mosques in Mali, including the Great Mosque of Timbuktu.

Features of the mosque:

  • Built from mud, clay and wood

  • Large towers and walls

  • Important place of worship

  • Centre of Islamic learning

Timbuktu: A Great Trading City

Timbuktu became one of the most important cities in Africa.

Reasons Timbuktu became important:

  • Located near the Niger River

  • Important stop on caravan routes

  • Centre of trade

  • Centre of religion and learning

  • Scholars and traders travelled there from many countries

Goods traded in Timbuktu:

  • Gold

  • Salt

  • Ivory

  • Books and manuscripts = knowledge

Timbuktu became famous throughout the world for wealth and education.

Timbuktu as a Centre of Learning

Timbuktu became one of the greatest centres of learning in Africa

Manuscripts:

  • Handwritten books and documents

  • Copied carefully by scholars

  • Preserved important knowledge and history

The Timbuktu manuscripts included information about:

Science ,Religion ,Medicine ,Trade ,Government Today, projects work to preserve these manuscripts.

Timbuktu as a World Heritage Site

⭐️Timbuktu is recognised as a World Heritage Site because of its historical and cultural importance.

Reasons it is important:

  • Ancient mosques

  • Historic manuscripts

Centre of African learning

  • Important history of trade and Islam

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THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE

  • Slavery in West Africa Before Europeans Arrived

Slavery already existed in some African societies before Europeans arrived. However, it was often different from plantation slavery in the Americas.

People became slaves because:

  • They were prisoners of war

  • They committed crimes

  • They had debts

  • They were kidnapped

  • In some African societies, enslaved people could eventually gain freedom or become part of the family.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade

The Transatlantic slave trade involved transporting enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas.

The trade lasted for more than 300 years and millions of Africans were taken from their homes. European traders exchanged goods in Africa for enslaved people, who were then sold in the Americas.

Effects of the slave trade:

  • Families were separated

  • African societies lost millions of people

  • Many people died during capture and transport

  • European traders became wealthy

Triangular Trade

The trading system between Europe, Africa and the Americas was called Triangular Trade because the routes formed a triangle on the map.

Europe to Africa:

European traders transported:

  • Guns and weapons

  • Cloth and textiles

  • Alcohol

  • Metal goods

  • Tools

  • Beads and jewellery

These goods were exchanged for enslaved Africans.

Africa to the America

Enslaved Africans were transported across the Atlantic Ocean. This journey became known as the Middle Passage.

Americas to Europe:

Raw materials and cash crops were transported to Europe, including:

  • Sugar

  • Cotton

  • Tobacco

  • Coffee

Plantations and Slave Labour

These products made plantation owners and traders very wealthy.

A plantation was a very large farm where crops were grown for profit.

Main plantation crops:

  • Tobacco

  • Rice

  • Sugar cane

  • Cotton

Reasons plantation owners used slave labour:

  • Cheap labour

  • Large plantations needed many workers

  • Plantation owners wanted more profit

Slaves could be forced to work long hours

Capturing and Transporting Enslaved Africans

  • Many Africans were captured during raids and wars. Some were kidnapped or sold by traders.

Steps in the process:

  • People were captured

  • Families were separated

  • Captives were forced to walk to the coast

  • They were kept in barracoons (slave prisons)

  • Sold at slave markets

  • Loaded onto slave ships

  • Transported across the Atlantic Ocean

Millions of enslaved Africans were taken to the Americas.

The Middle Passage

The Middle Passage was the journey across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to the Americas. It was called the Middle Passage because it was the middle part of the Triangular Trade route.

Conditions on slave ships:

  • Overcrowded ships

  • Very little space

  • Slaves chained together

  • Poor ventilation

  • Little food and water

  • Disease spread quickly

  • Dirty conditions

  • Physical abuse and cruelty

  • Fear and suffering

  • Many enslaved people died during the journey

The journey was long, dangerous and extremely cruel.

Slave Markets and Auctions

After arriving in the Americas, enslaved Africans were sold at auctions.

Auction:

  • Public sale where people or goods were sold to the highest buyer

Life on Plantations in the American South

Life on plantations was extremely difficult for enslaved people.

Conditions on plantations:

  • Long working hours

  • Hard physical labour

  • Harsh punishments and beatings

  • Little food and rest

  • Poor living conditions

  • No freedom

  • Families separated

  • Forced to obey owners

Impact on enslaved people:

  • Physical suffering

  • Illness and exhaustion

  • Fear and sadness

  • Emotional trauma

  • Loss of freedom and rights

Resistance to Slavery

Many enslaved people resisted slavery in different ways.

Individual resistance included:

  • Working slowly (sluggishness)

  • Passivity and indifference

  • Shirking work

  • Alcohol abuse

  • Running away

  • Suicide

  • Arson

  • Killing slave owners

Some enslaved people organised rebellions against slavery.

Nat Turner’s Revolt (1831)

Nat Turner was an enslaved man in the United States who led a rebellion against slavery in 1831.

Important facts:

  • Led enslaved people in revolt

  • Fought against slavery

  • Wanted freedom

  • Became a symbol of resistance

His rebellion frightened slave owners and led to stricter slave laws