African countries traded amongst themselves at first and created the transsahara trade routes through the. Aug 25, 2016 so this brings us to our original question. Although ghana had none of those, it had a great army. Occasionally larger gold nuggets were mixed in with the. Salt was probably one of the earliest goods traded over long. The civilizations that flourished in ancient west africa were mainly based on trade, so successful west african leaders tended to be peacemakers rather than warriors. In fact, throughout history salt has been very difficult to obtain in many parts of the world, and people feared a lack of salt the way we in the industrialized world fear. African gold and salt trade slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Oct 06, 2015 trading salt for gold was a practice done by the tuareg nomads of niger. I have tried to restrict the list to facts that are less likely to be well known but in some cases the facts are quite common. Apr 20, 2016 learn more about history and science with studies weekly. By the 14th century it was a flourishing centre for the transsaharan gold and salt trade, and it grew as a centre of islamic culture.
All of the things that mali traded gold for helped them stay very wealthy. Trade in the roman world ancient history encyclopedia. Gold and salt trade via that sahara desert has been going on for many centuries. Salt became one the most important trade items which allowed for changes in the ancient economy and spreading of trade routes. These two commodities were by far the most valuable that were being traded, and their abundance. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. As salt was worth its weight in gold, and gold was so abundant in the kingdom, ghana achieved much of its wealth through trade with the arabs. Salt trade exchange of salt for commodities such as gold and slaves, particularly in west africa.
Goods from western and central africa were traded across trade routes to faraway places like europe. Although local supply of salt was sufficient in subsaharan africa, the consumption of saharan salt was promoted for trade purposes. Mali trade products from the salhelian grasslands included sheepskin, goatskin, books, cloth, iron, copper, salt, pearls, ivory, gold, rubber, leather, hides and slaves. The worksheet and quiz help gauge your knowledge of the gold and salt trade in ancient africa. The goldsalt trade was an exchange of salt for gold between mediterranean economies and west african countries during the middle ages.
On the other hand north africa had lots and lots of salt. This means that areas producing salt had a valuable trade item, one that they could exchange for gold. Little did they know the effect it would have on us all today. This sounds doubtful, given that salt was so plentiful in taghaza that they used blocks of it to build houses, whereas the wangarians had to work hard to obtain relatively small quantities of gold. Gold from mali and other west african states was traded north to the mediterranean, in exchange for luxury goods. The gold salt trade introduced many new ways to use these products beneficially, as a lot of them are still used today. Even valuable items, such as cacao seeds, salt, obsidian, or gold tended to vary in value from one region or citystate to another, often rising in value the farther away these items were from. They were taxed for both what they brought in and what they took out. The gold salt trade was an exchange of salt for gold between mediterranean economies and west african countries during the middle ages. Ghana just happened to be in the middle and charged gold for passing through and. However, mali trade has sluggishly developed over time. Salt trade was strong in this region for many centuries. Why were gold and salt important in west african trade. The salt trade of ancient west africa ancient history encyclopedia.
The old salt route was a medieval trade route in northern germany, one of the ancient network of salt roads which were used primarily for the transport of salt and other staples. Trade in ancient west africa trading gold for salt. From the seventh to the eleventh century, transsaharan trade linked the mediterranean economies that demanded goldand could supply saltto the. Once they found out about each other trade for gold and salt was booming. Although ghana had none of the mines, it became rich with the salt and gold. Mediterranean economies were short of gold but could supply salt, taken by places like the african salt mine of taghaza, whereas west african countries like wangara had plenty of gold but needed salt. The kingdom of ghana did not have gold mines or salt mines, but ghana got rich handling the trade of gold for salt. Learn more about history and science with studies weekly. Salt and gold and profit profit, salt and gold and profit, salt and. West african kingdoms, such as the soninke empire of ghana and. Generally speaking, as with earlier and contemporary civilizations, the romans gradually developed a more sophisticated economy following the creation of an agricultural surplus, population movement and urban growth, territorial expansion, technology innovation, taxation, the spread of coinage, and not insignificantly, the need to feed the great city of rome itself and. Why were gold and salt important in west african trade answers. West africa received salt, cloth, beads, and metal goods.
In return, west africans provided gold, slaves, ivory, and cattle hides. The north had great salt mines and the south had great gold mines. After all, you know that you can always buy a container of salt for about fortyfive. Ancient mali gold trade routes ancient mali trade routes. Worldwide, african gold was famous, many countries wanted it, and would trade for it. From the seventh to the eleventh century, transsaharan trade linked the mediterranean economies that demanded goldand could supply saltto the subsaharan economies, where gold was abundant. The trade routes of ancient africa played an important role in the economy of many african empires. In the ancient empire of mali, the most important industry for trading was the gold industry. Then they beat on some drums so that the wangarians know theyre ready to trade, and they withdraw back to wherever. The silk road and the african goldsalt trade adobe spark.
The transsaharan trade route reached the magnitude that it did because of the trading of gold and salt. Gold is the only naturally yellow metal on the market. The flow of subsaharan gold to the northeast probably occurred in a steady but small stream. The digging season lasted only about seventyfive days until torrential rains and flooding made mining too dangerous to continue. To pass the quiz, you need to know the name of the major trading town in. In the past, salt was difficult to obtain in certain parts of the world. Also in west africa, gold mined south of the sahel was traded, pound for pound, for salt mined in the desert. In medieval west africa, salt led to the development of trade routes, and brought great wealth to the cities and states which they passed through. Gold the intriguing history of the west african saltgold.
In the fourteenth century, cowrie shells were introduced from the eastern coast as local currency, but gold and salt remained the principal mediums of longdistance trade. A succession of great african empires rose off the back of the gold trade as salt, ivory, and slaves were just some of the commodities. Islamic merchants traveled over two months through the desert to reach ghana and do business. Gold for salt, salt for gold ancient africa for kids. Find gold and salt trade lesson plans and teaching resources.
Mediterranean economies were short of gold but could supply salt, taken by. West africans received salt, cloth, and metal wares from arab traders. Furthermore, morocco claimed sole right to a valuable saharan salt mine that was vital to songhais survival. If you could choose between a pile of salt and a pile of gold, you would probably choose the gold. In west africa during the medieval period, salt was traded for gold.
Oct 10, 2016 it was stronger than any change in the world. Savanna through the sahel, i rule these trade routes trade, trade bringing in so much gold, i give it to my chained. Trade was even an ounce of gold for an ounce of salt. After all, you know that you can always buy a container of salt for about fortyfive cents at the local supermarket. Saharan salt from taoudenni is still transported by tuareg camel caravans, the still90kilo slabs now ultimately destined for the refineries of bamako in mali. Interesting facts about the trade routes of ancient africa. The gold and salt trade in west africa why trade gold for salt. There were many kingdoms along the west coast of africa. The goldsalt trade was when people north of the sahara trade salt for gold with the people south of the sahara. In the late th or early 14th century it was incorporated into the mali empire. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Lesson west african gold and salt trade mrcaseyhistory. The rise of the ghana empire, now called mali, senegal, and southern mauritania, paralleled the increase in transsaharan trade. Nearly all of the gold on earth came from meteorites that bombarded the planet over 200 million years after it formed.
Both the silk road and the african gold salt trade influenced the modern day world in many ways. Diorama of an underground salt mine in the in the deutsches museum in munich. Gold from mali and other west african states was traded north to the mediterranean, in exchange for. The most common exchange was salt for gold dust that came from the mines of southern west africa. The gold salt trade and the silk road were two very important factors to the growth of civilization and advancements in technology. If youre thinking about goods that youd cross the sahara for, gold probably comes to mind. Salt was probably one of the earliest goods traded over long distances in africa. The civilizations that flourished in ancient west africa were mainly based on trade, so successful west african leaders tended to be peacemakers rather than. Other metals may develop a yellowish color, but only after they have oxidized or reacted with other chemicals.
While other metals may develop a yellowish hue or color, that typically only happens after they have reacted with other chemicals. The expanse of the islamic empire allowed merchants to trade goods all the way from china to europe. The salt trade of ancient west africa ancient history. Nov 14, 2018 salt and gold and profit profit, salt and gold and profit, salt and. When the silk road and gold salt trade first started it was only looked at like a way of life or a money making path. Occasionally larger gold nuggets were mixed in with the gravel. West africa trade gold and salt desiree fines medium. The expanse of the islamic empire allowed merchants to trade goods. West africa had access to an abundance of gold but had almost no salt. It may be added that salt is easily available today which was not the case in ancient times. Trade between west and north africa continued to grow. Salt, both its production and trade, would dominate west african economies throughout the 2nd millennium ce, with sources and trade centres constantly changing hands as empires rose and fell. Savannah region produced food crops and cash crops.
These two commodities were by far the most valuable that were being traded, and their abundance resulted in the countries involved to become wealthy in a short period of time. Trade in africa is dominated by diverse natural resources that the continent enjoys in abundance. Trading salt for gold was a practice done by the tuareg nomads of niger. Apr 28, 2019 in the past, salt was difficult to obtain in certain parts of the world. Ancient mali gold trade routes ancient mali trade routes vs. They were two of the biggest trade routes in history.
Like ghana, mali gained much of its wealth from the gold. Timbuktus location at the meeting point of desert and water made it an ideal trading centre. Gold, for us, is rare and very expensive, selling currently at. A west african trading empire the kingdom of ghana lasted from 500 c. How did the gold and salt trade influence the development of west african kingdoms. Oct 12, 2010 african gold and salt trade slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising.
Back in ancient times, salt was worth its weight in gold. This is because ghana handled the trade between traders to the north and. Islamic merchants traveled over two months through the. Both the silk road and the african goldsalt trade influenced the modern day world in many ways. The transsaharan gold trade 7th14th century essay the. West african kingdoms, such as the soninke empire of ghana and the empire of mali that succeeded it, were rich in gold but lacked salt, a commodity that countries around the mediterranean had in plenty.
The akan knew that the rainy season produced small particles of gold in the river beds. How salt made and unmade the turks and caicos islands. Cut off from the revenues of the turks salt trade after 1848, the bahamians went on to build a salt trade of their own. Did you know that gold and diamonds are among the main exported commodities of african nations. This may seem astonishing as salt is a cheap commodity in todays society.
This summary of the saltgold trade is well worth a read. Trade goods islamic merchants dealt in a wide variety of trade goods including sugar, salt, textiles, spices, slaves, gold, and horses. The salinae museum exhibition is decorated with real salt and shows the procedure for obtaining the mineral from the waters of the. The people from the south and the north would get great protection if they each gave an ounce of gold and salt. Caravans of camel riding merchants from north africa crossed the sahara beginning in the seventh century of the common era. Even today, the salt trade continues, although the deposits are running out and the salt merchants can no longer command gold dust in exchange. The goldsalt trade introduced many new ways to use.
Blue robes, red sand, tents of woven grassthis is the beauty of the tuareg tribe. The gold salt trade was when people north of the sahara trade salt for gold with the people south of the sahara. All the east coast traders had to do was cross the sahara to get there, which was no easy feat. Saharan salt from taoudenni is still transported by tuareg. After a while, word reached the east coast of africa about the riches to the west.
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