ipl-logo

What Were The Benefits Of The Trans-Saharan Trade

395 Words2 Pages

The Trans-Saharan trade remained a constant source of wealth and ultimately enabled the spread of ideas, thus strengthening the West African kingdoms. The route was established by the Berbers, a group of caravan traders who created a network of routes through the region from 700 to 900 CE.The kingdom of Mali’s primary export was gold, which was frequently traded across the Mediterranean. Using this popular commodity, Mali imposed a tax on gold trade, which allowed the empire to increase its wealth through the income that the tax produced. (Hamilton 4). This income was then greatly invested in Mali’s army, creating a stronger military force and making Mali a more strong and powerful kingdom. The subsequent empire of Songhai gained its wealth …show more content…

Slaves were also used within the kingdom itself, for labour in areas such as agriculture and mining. They were a substantial part of Songhai’s workforce, providing many benefits for the kingdom. This included the production of more resources for both citizens, as well as products to trade with other kingdoms, which created an abundance of wealth for Songhai. Both these usages allowed for the kingdom to prosper and become more powerful as their massive income allowed the empire to strengthen and become more powerful and wealthy. The Trans-Saharan Trade not only brought wealth to both Mali and Songhai, but also enabled the spread of ideas through the book trade. This allowed for different ideas such as astronomy and mathematics to be shared amongst scholars all over the region (“The Road” 00:48:09-49:23). The ideas that were contained in the books were spread through the Trans-Saharan Trade, which allowed for different subjects and discoveries to be distributed, thus spreading those ideas to many different people. The Trans-Saharan Trade created a continual income for the West African Kingdoms and assisted the spread of ideas across the

Show More
Related
498 Words | 2 Pages

There was a high demand for luxurious goods that were special to each region which caused a great increase in trade. This also occurred on the Trans-Saharan trade routes with gold. Religion also played a big factor in why trade was increasing in these two trade routes. Increases in technology helped trade become more efficient and faster. For example, the compass helped people trade along the Indian Ocean sea lanes.

Read More
1328 Words | 6 Pages

One of the more important factors was understanding the economic power of china. China supplied for and consumed products of this trading network. They also provided technological innovations. Another factor was that there was a sudden rise of Islam and its spread across the Afro-Eurasia world. This creation of the Arab Empire brought together a political system in range of economies and cultural traditions thus providing a vast area for trade.

Read More
819 Words | 4 Pages

This paper is about the usefulness of Sundiata as a primary source document for studying trade and commerce in ancient Mali, by comparing and contrasting secondary sources accounts of trade and commerce, and the account given in the Epic of Sundiata, to prove that the book the epic of Sundiata is a useful primary source document for studying trade and commerce in Ancient Mali. When talking about trade in Ancient Mali, knowing about the Dyulas is paramount. A large amount of trade in ancient Mali was done by the trader caste of the Dyulas, who are tangentially mentioned in the Epic of Sundiata, on Page 82 " Dyulas became numerous. "

Read More
209 Words | 1 Pages

Extensive trans-cultural commerce occurred as well. Inventions such as crossbows, paper, and gunpowder were traded across the majority of Afro-Eurasia. Many cities, including Tashkent and Kalgan, relied on the business that travelers from the Silk Roads brought. Additionally, many regions shared languages, cultural attitudes, and religious motifs. The Silk Roads truly connected Afro-Eurasia, bringing new recourses and innovations to each

Read More
807 Words | 4 Pages

Another result of the Trans-Saharan trade and the increasing spread of Islam is that Mansa Musa, the king of Mali was able to become extremely wealthy and rule over a large empire. Mansa Musa was a very wealthy man who

Read More
463 Words | 2 Pages

Some people lived in larger, centralized states, while other lived in simple village communities. Islam was one of the most widespread religions in Africa before missionaries came to convert them to Christianity. This might have been a more positive influence if the Europeans hadn’t viewed the Africans as a people in need of refinement and guidance instead of understanding and respecting their culture. However, one benefit of Europe’s growing control of Africa was that the transatlantic slavery slowly came to an end, but in East Africa, slavery continued to run rampant. Although the end of much of the slavery did rid Africa of much exploitation, it continued in other ways including the harvest of copper, ivory, and other resources taken from the Congo, civilians forced into hard labor for little compensation, and little to no control of the government was given to native

Read More
716 Words | 3 Pages

As for salt, it was seen as a major resource for its nutritional and preservation qualities. It was a vital resource that these Mali people used. The Niger river allowed the Mali empire to trade easily, as the current would calmly drift them into other civilizations. Both empires also utilized camels as the river was not always accessible. All in all these trade routes allowed these civilizations to expand their wealth, and distance of trade.

Read More
425 Words | 2 Pages

In the article of Steven Johnson, “Could It Be That Video Games Are Good for Kids?” demonstrates that video games can be beneficial to children. On the other hand, some people talks about how harmful that video games may bring to children. More specifically, Johnson gives some instances on how video games shape children’s values and knowledge development.

Read More
720 Words | 3 Pages

East and West Africa from 1000 to 1500 CE had profound differences in forms of government, with West Africa being kingdom based, and East Africa city-state based. The conversion of Eastern and Western African ruling elites compacted trading between themselves and Islamic traders from Mesopotamia, China, India, and as far away as Oceania. The relatively stable political environment from 1000-1500 CE in Sub-Saharan Africa attracted displaced peoples from the Abbasid empire in Northern Africa, with West Africa utilizing Trans-Saharan trade, and East Africa utilizing mariner trade routes. The East and West developed in clearly different ways, but paralleled each other in a way in which the political, social, and economic environments facilitated stable trade in the region, as well as a distinct blend between Islamic culture and African tradition.

Read More
483 Words | 2 Pages

The difference between the trade systems, however, were the way the goods were traded. Along the Indian Ocean, ships were used to carry bulk goods as well as luxury goods along a more relay-based route. Along the Trans-Saharan route, traders used camel caravans to carry mostly luxury goods to their trading destination. There were not many cities along the Trans-Saharan, so they never really did the relay-style trading.

Read More
1476 Words | 6 Pages

The backbone of the Songhai Empire was the Niger River. The Niger River benefited the Songhai Empire. The Niger River made transporting goods and products easier. The Niger River also was a way of transportation. Merchants and travelers traveled on the Niger River.

Read More
1033 Words | 5 Pages

For example, when China started using silver as currency, they traded with the British and Dutch. The Dutch would pay with pesos that had been made by African slaves using Incan and Aztec forms of labor. The silver would then eventually find its way to more places. Although, the people at the time didn’t know this, the world was interconnected because of trade, and because of the many places and people involved in trade. Why was trade so pervasive in the Islamic world prior to contact with the Portuguese?

Read More
571 Words | 3 Pages

In History of Africa, Shillington focuses on many aspects of African culture and factors that made Africa to be the continent that it is today. Chapter 5 primarily focuses on the Northern region of Africa and how empires took over and spread their ideology technology, and culture all through out the region. Even today some remnants of the Roman and Greek empire live on to this day (Shillington, 69.) Despite many people getting the impression that Northern Africa is only influenced by Arabic and Islam, these empires and their conquests are best understood through topics like intricate trading routes, farming, and the spread of religion. Shillington provides an in depth analysis of how many of these conquests affected Northern Africa centuries ago and today.

Read More
567 Words | 3 Pages

First they had crossroads of profitable trade. They would trade perfumes, precious metals, incense, and silk filed through their town, headed North to coastal town. When they would trade overseas to the Arabian Peninsula, they traded spices, textiles, and spices from Asia. Mecca was rich due to travel connects to Europe, Asia and Africa. Trade became such a big thing in Islam, it was known as...

Read More
1131 Words | 5 Pages

The Dendi Kingdom succeeded the empire as the continuation of Songhai culture and

Read More

More about What Were The Benefits Of The Trans-Saharan Trade

Related Topics

Open Document