Trade Routes of Ancient Africa

Many African Empires’ economies depended heavily on the ancient African trade routes. Trade routes connected distant locations like Europe, the Middle East, and India with goods from Western and Central Africa.

What did they trade?

Gold and salt were the two principal commodities exchanged. West African Empires like Ghana and Mali benefited greatly from the wealth the region’s gold mines produced. Aside from those mentioned above, trade also frequently involved beads, fabric, kola nuts, ivory, and slaves.

Major Trade Cities

Major cities became commercial hubs as trade expanded across Africa. Western African cities like Timbuktu, Gao, Agadez, Sijilmasas, and Djenne served as important commercial hubs. Seaport cities like Marrakesh, Tunis, and Cairo grew up along North Africa’s coast. Adulis, a port city on the Red Sea, was a significant commercial hub.

Desert routes through the Sahara

Between Western/Central Africa and the port trade towns along the Mediterranean Sea, the main commercial routes transported products through the Sahara Desert. One significant commercial route connected Timbuktu with Sijilmasa by crossing the Sahara. Once the commodities arrived at Sijilmasa, they might be transported to a variety of locations, such as the port cities of Tunis or Marrakech. Gao to Tunis and Cairo to Agadez were two further trading routes.

Caravans

Caravans are the big groupings used by traders to transport their products through the Sahara. The primary form of transportation for both people and goods was the camel. Sometimes slaves also transported things. It was crucial to have large caravans because they provided security against bandits. Around 1,000 camels make up a regular caravan, and some have as many as 10,000.

The Camel

The caravan’s most crucial component was the camel. Trade over the Sahara would have been nearly impossible without the camel. Camels are specially designed to go for extended durations without water. They can also withstand significant variations in body temperature, which enables them to endure the desert’s extreme heat during the day and cold at night.

History

Around 300 CE, the Berbers of North Africa were the first people to domesticate camels. Camels were used to establish trade routes between settlements spread across the Sahara Desert. The Arab conquest of North Africa, however, marked the peak of African trade. Islamic traders arrived in the area and started trading for gold and West African slaves. Throughout the Middle Ages and into the 1500s, the trade routes continued to be a significant component of the African economy.

Interesting Information on Ancient African Trade Routes

Camels would be fattened up in preparation for a voyage through the desert.
Muslim traders helped the Islamic faith spread throughout Western Africa.
Islam facilitated trade by lowering crime rates through its legal system and by providing a common language (Arabic).
The affluent merchant caste in West Africa included Muslim traders who were referred to as the Dyula people.
Camels have two rows of eyelashes on each eye to shield them from the sun and sand. To prevent sand from entering, they can also seal their nostrils.
The usual caravan crossed the Sahara Desert in around 40 days while traveling at a speed of about 3 miles per hour.