What was the gold and salt trade of West Africa?
Gold and salt trade via the Sahara Desert has been going on for many centuries. Gold from Timbuktu, a city in the modern-day West African country of Mali, and other West African states was traded north to the Mediterranean in exchange for luxury goods and, ultimately, salt from the desert.
What did West Africa trade for salt?
gold
Camel caravans from North Africa carried bars of salt as well as cloth, tobacco, and metal tools across the Sahara to trading centers like Djenne and Timbuktu on the Niger River. Some items for which the salt was traded include gold, ivory, slaves, skins, kola nuts, pepper, and sugar.
Who did West Africa trade gold for salt with?
Mansa Musa ruled Mali for about years, from 1312 to 1337. During that time, Mali added many important trade including Timbuktu, Djenne, and Gao, to its empire. Traders came to Timbuktu from the north and the south to trade for salt, gold, shells, and many other goods.
Who did the salt trade?
An anonymous Arab traveller of the 10th century CE recorded the delicate operation of bulk trading between salt and gold merchants, sometimes called ‘the silent trade’ where neither party actually met face to face: Great people of the Sudan lived in Ghana.
What items did traders get from West Africa?
The main items traded were gold and salt. The gold mines of West Africa provided great wealth to West African Empires such as Ghana and Mali. Other items that were commonly traded included ivory, kola nuts, cloth, slaves, metal goods, and beads.
How did the gold for salt trade work?
How did Ghana’s gold-salt trade work? Merchants met in trading cities, where they exchanged goods under watchful eye of the king’s tax collector. Royal officials also made sure all traders weighed goods fairly and and did business according to law. Royal guards also provided protection from bandits.
How did the gold and salt trade develop?
Why did the gold-salt trade develop between West Africa and North Africa? … The trade began due to a surplus of each product per area. Gold was plentiful in West Africa so traders sent the item to North Africa so they too could have the valuable mineral. In return, North Africans gave salt to West Africa.
When was the salt trade in Africa?
A human necessity and source of commerce, salt has been in high demand in West Africa since the 12th century when it was first found in the sand dunes of the desert. Its discovery gave rise to a robust commodity trade that quickly paved a near-mythical trail connecting Timbuktu with Europe, southern Africa, and Persia.
What most affected ancient West African trade?
What most affected ancient West African trade? lack of transportation. natural landforms. limited resources for trade. too many merchants.
How did the salt trade develop in Africa?
The trade began due to a surplus of each product per area. Gold was plentiful in West Africa so traders sent the item to North Africa so they too could have the valuable mineral. In return, North Africans gave salt to West Africa.
What did the gold and salt trade develop between West Africa and North Africa and what was its impact on the spread of ideas?
Gold was plentiful in West Africa so traders sent the item to North Africa so they too could have the valuable mineral. In return, North Africans gave salt to West Africa.