AP World History: 2.4 - Trans-Saharan Trade Routes

Trans-Saharan Trade Routes and West African Empires

Introduction to Trans-Saharan Trade

• Historical Context:

  • East African Coast was well-populated for centuries before Islam.

  • The Sahara Desert, with its arid climate, made farming nearly impossible, leading to sparse settlement by few societies.

  • Nomadic communities engaged in some trade across the Sahara.

• Religious Influence and Trade Expansion:

  • Volume of trade significantly increased with the arrival of Muslim merchants in the 7^{th} and 8^{th} centuries.

  • The growth of empires, such as Mali in the early 1200s, dramatically expanded commerce.

• Primary Source Insight:

  • Ibn Battuta (1304-1353), a Muslim scholar and explorer, documented his travels across the region.

  • He described sailing down the Niger River from Timbuktu to Gaogao, and then traveling overland to Tagadda with a large merchant caravan.

  • He noted the use of cowry-shells as currency in cities like Gaogao and Malli (Mali).

• Key Commodities in Trans-Saharan Trade:

  • African Exports: Gold, ivory, hides, and slaves.

  • Arab and Berber Imports: Salt, cloth, paper, and horses.

The Sahara Desert: A Geographic Overview

• Vast Expanse: The Sahara Desert covers approximately 3.6 million square miles, which is roughly the same size as China.

• Oases:

  • Only about 800 square miles of the Sahara are oases, which are crucial for human settlement.

  • Oases are fertile areas where underground water surfaces, either naturally or through human-dug wells.

Camels, Saddles, and Trade Technology

• The Role of Camels:

  • Muslim merchants from Southwest Asia were instrumental in traversing the Sahara using camels.

  • Camels, native to the Arabian Desert, were introduced to North Africa in the 3^{rd} century B.C.E.

  • They were well-adapted to the Sahara's harsh, dry climate.

  • Physiological Advantages: Camels can consume over 50 gallons of water in three minutes and can go for extended periods without needing more water, making them superior to horses and donkeys in desert conditions.

  • Camels began to replace horses and donkeys for desert travel after 300 C.E.

• Developments in Camel Saddles:

  • The widespread use of camels led to the development of as many as 15 different types of saddles, each designed for specific purposes.

  • South Arabian Saddle: Placed the rider behind the hump, offering an easier grip on the hump's hair.

  • Northern Arabian Saddle: Placed the rider on top of the hump, providing greater visibility in battles and better control over the camel's head.

  • Somali Saddle (Most Impactful for Trade): Designed by semi-nomadic Somalis, this saddle could carry heavy loads (up to 600 pounds). This innovation was crucial for enabling camels to transport large quantities of trade goods across the desert, significantly boosting commerce.

Comparison of Pack Animals

Trans-Saharan Trade Routes and Their Impact

• Caravan Logistics: Caravans crossing the Sahara often comprised thousands of camels loaded with both trade goods and essential provisions, including fresh water, sufficient to reach the next oasis. The caravan leaders typically walked the entire journey.

• Route Network: The Sahara was traversed by seven north-south trade routes and two east-west routes.

• Cultural Exchange: These routes facilitated contact between people in Sub-Saharan Africa and an expanding network of diverse cultures and trading partners.

• Economic Significance: By the end of the 8^{th} century C.E., trans-Saharan trade was renowned across Europe and Asia.

  • Gold: The most precious commodity, acquired by West African merchants from the Senegal River region (modern-day Senegal and Mauritania).

  • Other Trade Goods: Foreign traders sought ivory and slaves from West Africa, exchanging them for salt, textiles, and horses.

  • Wealth Generation: For over 700 years, this trade brought considerable wealth to West African societies, particularly the kingdoms of Ghana and Mali.

• Spread of Islam: A significant effect of the Trans-Saharan trade was the spread of Islam into Sub-Saharan Africa.

West African Empires and the Expansion of Trade

• Decline of Ghana and Rise of Mali:

  • By the 12^{th} century, wars weakened the Ghanaian state.

  • Mali emerged as the most powerful new trading society, with Islam having been introduced by North African traders in the 9^{th} century.

• Mali's Prosperity:

  • The Malian government profited extensively from the gold trade.

  • It also taxed nearly all other trade entering West Africa, accumulating greater wealth than Ghana.

  • Most residents were farmers cultivating sorghum and rice.

  • Urban Centers: The great cities of Timbuktu and Gao became wealthy centers of Muslim life.

  • Timbuktu as a Learning Hub: Timbuktu gained world renown as a center of Islamic learning. By the 1500s, books produced and sold in Timbuktu commanded higher prices than most other goods.

• Expanding Role of States:

  • The growth in trade and wealth necessitated state administration and maintenance.

  • Currency: Rulers established widely understood currencies, with Mali using cowrie shells, cotton cloth, gold, glass beads, and salt.

  • Protection: Empires protected trade routes and resource-rich areas using military forces—well-provisioned with horses and iron weapons purchased with tax revenue.

  • Imperial Expansion: This expansion drew more people into the empire's economy and trade networks, fostering contact with distant cultures.

Key Figures of Mali

• Sundiata: The Founding Ruler (The Lion Prince):

  • Legend: Sundiata's father ruled a small West African society (present-day Guinea). After his father's death, rival groups invaded, killing most of the royal family but sparing the crippled Sundiata, deeming him no threat.

  • Rise to Power: Despite his injury, he learned to fight, becoming a feared warrior. Forced into exile, he strengthened himself and his allies.

  • Reconquest: In 1235, Sundiata returned, defeated his enemies, and reclaimed his birthright.

  • Astute Leadership: Believed to be a Muslim, Sundiata leveraged his faith connections to establish trade relationships with North African and Arab merchants.

  • He cultivated a thriving gold trade, leading to tremendous wealth growth for Mali.

• Mansa Musa: Sundiata's Grand-Nephew and Devout Muslim Leader:

  • Fame: In the 14^{th} century, Mansa Musa brought further fame to Mali, known more for his religious leadership than his political or economic skills.

  • Pilgrimage to Mecca (1324): A devout Muslim, Mansa Musa undertook an extraordinarily extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam's holiest city.

  • Extravagant Caravan: His journey showcased Mali's immense wealth to the outside world, involving 100 camels, thousands of slaves and soldiers, and ample gold distributed to his hosts along the way.

  • Deepened Islamic Devotion: His visit to Mecca strengthened his commitment to Islam. Upon his return, he established religious schools in Timbuktu, built mosques in Muslim trading cities, and sponsored religious studies.

  • Legacy of Islam: Though most West Africans maintained traditional beliefs, Mansa Musa's reign significantly deepened support for Islam in Mali, cementing its prominent place in the region today.

Decline of Mali and Rise of Songhai

• Mali's Decline: Less than 100 years after Mansa Musa's death, the Mali kingdom began to decline.

• Songhai Kingdom: By the late 1400s, the Songhai Kingdom had replaced Mali as the dominant power in West Africa, following similar processes of growth and becoming even larger and richer.

Empires in Western Eurasia and Africa (13th Century)

Essential Question Revisited: Causes and Effects of Trans-Saharan Trade, and Imperial Influence

• Causes of Trans-Saharan Trade:

  • Geographic necessity: The vast Sahara divided resource-rich regions, prompting the need for exchange.

  • Resource differential: Desire for West African gold, ivory, and slaves by North African and Arab merchants, and demand for salt, textiles, horses, and paper in West Africa.

  • Technological advancements: The development of specialized camel saddles allowed for efficient transportation of heavy goods across the desert.

  • Arrival of Muslim merchants: Catalyzed an increase in trade volume and established robust networks.

  • Rise of powerful empires: Empires like Ghana and Mali actively managed, taxed, and protected trade routes, further incentivizing commerce.

• Effects of Trans-Saharan Trade:

  • Economic prosperity: Brought immense wealth to West African kingdoms (e.g., Ghana, Mali) for over 700 years.

  • Cultural diffusion: Connected Sub-Saharan Africa with diverse cultures of North Africa, Europe, and Asia.

  • Spread of Islam: Muslim traders and rulers (like Mansa Musa) were instrumental in introducing and strengthening Islamic faith and scholarship in West Africa, leading to cultural centers like Timbuktu.

  • Urbanization: Fostered the growth of major trading cities into centers of commerce and learning.

  • Development of strong states: Empires formed and expanded to control and benefit from trade, requiring administrative structures, currencies, and military protection for routes and resources.

• How the Growth of Empires Influenced Trade and Communication:

  • Centralization and Control: Empires like Mali centralized control over trade routes and resources, taxing commerce to fund their administration and military.

  • Currency and Standardization: Rulers established common currencies (e.g., cowrie shells, gold) which facilitated transactions and trust in trade.

  • Protection and Infrastructure: Imperial forces protected merchants and routes from bandits, reducing risks and encouraging more trade. They also supported oases, essential stops for caravans.

  • Expansion of Networks: As empires expanded, they drew more people and regions into their economic and communication networks, increasing the scale and scope of trade.

  • Diplomacy and Connections: Rulers, particularly Muslim ones like Sundiata and Mansa Musa, used religious and political connections to forge new trade relationships and enhance existing ones with North African and Arab merchants.

  • Centers of Learning: Imperial support led to the growth of cities like Timbuktu as vibrant centers of Islamic learning, attracting scholars and further integrating the region into the wider Islamic world's intellectual and communication networks.

Key Terms By Theme

• GOVERNMENT: Sub-Saharan: Mali, Sundiata, Mansa Musa, Songhai Kingdom

• ENVIRONMENT: Africa: Sahara Desert, oases

• CULTURE: Islam: Timbuktu, Mecca

• ECONOMICS: Trade: trans-Saharan trade

• ENVIRONMENT: Southwest Asia: Arabian Desert

• TECHNOLOGY: Pack animals: camel saddle