TRANS – SAHARAN TRADE
Trans-Saharan trade was the exchange of goods between the people of North Africa and West Africa across the Saharan desert.
The trade is believed to have started around the 3rd and 4th centuries AD But it flourished in the 8th century A.D.
The trade involved the exchange of goods between the people of Northern Africa such as Berbers and Tuaregs and the communities of West Africa such as the Dyula (Djula) Soninke, Malinke (Mandinka). Europeans from Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal participated in this trade.
Trade items.
Goods from North Africa.
A. Salt, was obtain from North Africa in the Sahel region especially in areas such as Taoden, Bilma, Awlil, Taghaza and Ghadames,
B. Horses from Tripoli, Horses were bought for military reasons.
C. Camels came from Middle East.
D. Perfumes, spices, dates, glassware, beads, needles, firearms, daggers, cowrie shells and Arabic books were all brought from north Africa.
E. Copper was mined at Takkeda.
Goods from Western Sudan.
A. Gold: was one of the important items in the trade, gold was mined at Bambuk and Boure (Wangara) and in Asante.
B. Slaves, were Obtained from Western Sudan
C. Animal skin, came from Hausaland where the pastoralists kept a large number of animals.
D. Kola nuts and ostritch feathers, they were obtained from Hausaland, mainly from Kano region in modern-day Nigeria.
E. Ivory was obtained manly from Ivory coast
F. Dyed clothes were obtained from the Mandinka specialists.
Organization of the trade
The Trans-Saharan trade involved the coverage of great distance across the desert.
The journey from northern Africa to western Sudan took about three months. The Arabs from North Africa and Middle East referred West Africa as “Billad al-Sudan” meaning the land of Black people. It is from this notion that Western Africa is usually referred as Western Sudan.
Traders who crossed the desert to Wester Sudan faced dangers such as Hostile tribes, getting lost, sandstorms, and dehydration.
The traders used camels because camels could carry quiet heavier loads and could survive without food and water for a long time. Camel also physically has hooves which are spongy in nature and well to the desert sands on the other hand camels has a big storage of fats in its humps this also makes camels spend a long time walking without fatigue or hunger.
The rich merchants established good relationship with the Berbers and Tuaregs whose communities Trans-Saharan trade routes passed through. There arose the Tuareg takshifs whose work was to guide traders through the tricky and dangerous routes in the desert.
Traders from North Africa (Barbary States) carried gifts for the political leaders in Western Sudan. They did this because those political leaders protected those traders and ensured security for them.
Some famous leaders like Mansa Musa (Mali) and Askia Mohammed (Songhai) participated in Trans-Saharan trade
When traders reached the traders gave their goods to Agents (Middlemen). The middlemen were very trusted people who could sell goods and ensure security of profits of traders. Example of tribes and communities which acted as middleman in Trans-Saharan Trade were Mandinka, Soninke, Songhai. Hausa, Berbers and Tuaregs.
Trans-Saharan Trade Routes
There were so many routes that emerged as a result of Trans-Saharan Trade, among them were:
1. Western Route, started rom Fez in Morocco through Sijilmasa, Audaghost, Taghaza and Walata in Old Ghana
2. Central Route, this started from Tunis through Ghadames, Ghat, Air (Agades), Katsina, Kano and Hausaland.
3. The Eastern route, started from Tripoli through Fezzan, Murzuk, Kawar, Bilma and ended in lake Chad (Empire of Bornu).
Organization of the trade
The Trans-Saharan trade involved the coverage of great distance across the desert.
The journey from northern Africa to western Sudan took about three months. The Arabs
Qn: Acount for the rise and development of Trans-Saharan trade
REASONS FOR THE RISE OF TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE
1. Availability of trade items, trans-Saharan trade grew because of availability of trade items which were needed in both sides , example of these items were: animal skin, gold, ostrich feathers, ivory, slaves, dates, copper, salt, kolanuts to mention a few.
2. The political stability of West Africa, the presence of peaceful political atmosphere in West Africa was a reason why Trans-Saharan trade rose. Political stability created good environment for traders to conduct their business in West Africa.
3. The role played by leaders of the kingdoms of West Africa. These leaders led to the development of trans-Saharan trade because they protected traders, they also provided freedom of worship for the Muslim traders from North Africa, they also levied little taxes these also made traders to be motivated to trade in West Africa hence the development of Trans-Saharan trade.
4. Introduction of camels by the first century A.D (100A.D), the use of camels for transport also facilitated the development of trade. These animals could not only carry more commodities and donkeys but also, they could endure (tolerate) the harsh desert condition. For example, they could travel for a very long-distance without food and water but also their hooves are well adapted to the desert condition, hence this solved the transport challenge leading to development of Trans-Saharan Trade.
5. Honesty, the Berbers of North Africa and African traders of Western Sudan trusted each other. Traders brought in commodities without fear of theft and robbery, this enabled the trade to flourish.
6. The role played by Islamic faith, the introduction of Islamic language in West Africa went hand win hand with the introduction of Arabic language that solved the communication barrier, but also Islamic religion created brotherhood between the people of North Africa and West Africa a thing which led to the development of Trans-Saharan Trade.
7. The conquest of North Africa by the Arabs from Middle East in the year between (641 to 708), the Arabs from middle East brought with them Camels and Horses from Middle East, these animals were used later to develop Trans-Saharan Trade, hence the role played by the Arabs conquest of North African.
8. The geographical advantages of both North and West Africa, good climate enable both communities to produce the most demanded trade item abut also good climatic condition provided a room for exchange this also contributed to the development of Trans-Saharan Trade.
Factors that led to fall of trans – Saharan trade
1. Wars between the Arabs and Christians at Markesh in morocco. Arabs Muslims fought against Christians in their efforts to win converts. The war spread to Spain to fight Ibn Tashufi who decided to ally with the enemies to Islam.
2. Lack of water in the desert. As trading activity got more intense, the horse in the desert were over used and last they dried up.
3. Rise of trans – Atlantic trade from the 15th century. The new trade took place between west Africa, Europe and America. European brought clothes, guns and drinks which they exchanged for slave palm oil and ivory.
4. Colonization of west Africa in the 19th century. European colonialists took over the trans – Saharan trade and late they suppressed it fearing if could bring less availability of raw materials which were needed in Europe. So the Arabs, barbers could no longer go on with this trans – Saharan trade.
5. The discovery of Gold in America, the Europeans depended much on African Gold before they discovered Gold in their new colonies of South America. The discovery of other sources of gold like that of South America led to loss of market for the African Gold.
6. Strong winds: the traders could not withstand the hazards of sandstorms. Many traders abandoned the trade as a result of this hazardous conditions of the desert.
7. Traders faced a danger of getting lost in the desert because the routes were not clear. Once traders got lost, they would wander in the desert for a long time and finally die of thirst and starvation.
