African empires that controlled transsaharan trade in gold, salt, and other precious commodities. Improved transportation technologies and commercial practices led to an increased volume of trade and expanded the geographical range of existing trade routes, including the trans saharan trade network. I test bates view that trade across ecological divides promoted the development of states in precolonial africa. It profoundly influenced the culture of the region through the spread of its language, laws and customs along the niger river, which ran through the heart of the empire. The beginning of the trans saharan and red sea slave trades dates back to at least 600ad lovejoy, 2000. May 01, 2019 a very big question, one of the big problems for the incoming europeans was how to develop the new lands they had acquired in the americas the first slaves. This occurred in west africa with the trans saharan trade. Insecurity experienced in the region discouraged many merchants. Transsaharan trade and the west african discovery of the.
The trans saharan trade is said to have facilitated the spread of islam religion in western sudan. The 19th century jihads in west africa affected the transsaharan trade, but did not lead to its decline rather commerce boomed as a result. Reasons for the decline and then abolition of slave trade in africa was the direct result of its abolition in the uk and usa slavery as a practice and then as an institution developed in the british colonies of the americas in early 17th century w. What were the reasons for the abolition of slave trade in. A very big question, one of the big problems for the incoming europeans was how to develop the new lands they had acquired in the americas the first slaves. Pdf a historical geography of the transsaharan trade. My main result is that subsaharan societies in ecologically diverse environments had more centralized precolonial states. Trade of gold and salt was very important to it being a powerful empire. Gold, sought from the western and central sudan, was the main commodity of the transsaharan trade. What factors led to the rise of transsaharan trade answers. Describe the trading networks by examining transsaharan trade in gold, salt, and slaves. State the role of tuaregs in the trans saharan trade solved identify the role of tuaregs in the trans saharan trade. It profoundly influenced the culture of the region through the spread of its language, laws and customs along the niger river, which ran through the heart of.
The saharan trade extended from the sub saharan west african kingdoms across the sahara desert to europe and linked the ghana, mali and songhai empires to the european world and the middle east. I test bates view that trade across ecological divides promoted the develop ment of states in precolonial africa. Which of these factors caused the resources of ghana to decline. Trans saharan slave trade resisted these forces well into the second decade of the twentieth century when it was forced to an end. North settled early by berbers, hamites caucasian groups c. The impact of the trans saharan trade the trans saharan. Transsaharan slave trade history of world civilization ii. By the 15 th century, when the atlantic trade would begin, the transsaharan trade had been flourishing for at least 5 centuries, and had already shaped the rise, fall, and consolidation of many west african states and societies. Trans saharan trade requires travel across the sahara north and south to reach sub saharan africa from the north african coast, europe, to the levant. The decline of the slave trade in spite of this, during the nineteenth century, britain was to play a leading role in the abolition of the slave trade. Improved commercial practices led to an increased volume of trade and expanded the geographical range of existing trade routesincluding the silk roads, transsaharan trade network, and indian oceanpromoting the growth of powerful new trading cities. Between the 11th and th centuries, djenne was a leading commercial center in west africa.
Ecology, trade and states in precolonial africa james fenskey abstract. This trade was conducted between the north african traders and their counterparts in west africa. Goods included precious metals, such as gold, as well as slaves. Until 1076, muslims and worshippers of african religions had coexisted there, but in that year the almoravids sacked the city and ghana fell into decline. The indian ocean trading network fostered the growth of states. The sahara is the greatest physical and cultural barrier b. Moroccan attack on songhai empiretimbuktu, and advancements in maritime travel, along with shifting economic and political contexts all combined to the decline of trans saharan trade. Much of the transsaharan trade in and out of timbuktu passed through djenne. Cause and effect of the ancient trans saharan trade in west africa edice hua ancient african civilizations hist12521. What are the factors responsible for the rise and development. The trade led to the decline of empires such as ancient ghana and mali while others such as songhai emerged. Availability of trade goods such as gold and salt presence of oases that provided water the tuaregs in the desert provided security to the traders and acted as guides existence of well established trade routes. The transatlantic slave trade radically impaired africas potential to develop economically and maintain its social and political stability.
D, was already in decline mainly due to the development of the transatlantic slave trade. The empire of ghana part of present day senegal, mail and mauritania possessed a large amount of gold but lacked adequate salt for its population. A historical geography of the trans saharan trade january 2011 in book. After its decline during the rise of the mali empire, it continued to operate as an important trading post through the 17th century. The transsaharan trade was an important gateway for the spread of islam in africa.
Topics of studyghanas government and militarytrade. Architecture of the subsaharan civilizations boundless. Subsaharan africa has larger regions with many micro regions d. During the transsaharan slave trade, slaves were taken from south of the saharan desert. Though the trade is all but dead, slavery still existed in various forms in regions that were sources of slaves during the trans saharan slave trade. While existing from prehistoric times, the peak of trade extended from the 8th century until the early 17th century. Describe the trading networks by examining trans saharan trade in gold, salt, and slaves. The golden age of the transsaharan trade ended with the collapse of songhay empire after the moroccan attack in 1591. Transsaharan slave trade resisted these forces well into the second decade of the twentieth century when it was forced to an end. As the trade intensified, infrastructures were developed in form of trade roots, schools, mosques and monuments. Why discuss the transsaharan trade as part of a workshop dealing with issues of food, cultural contact.
So it is hard to understand the importance of transsaharan trade without understanding its importance for society, in terms of organisation and belief. As a major terminal in the gold, salt, and slave trade of the transsaharan trade route, it flourished for several centuries. The transsaharan trade played an important role in the rise of states in the senegambia region and the western sudan, in general. The three stages of containment, mixing, and reform can shed light on the historical developments of islam in this region. Sweeping assertions are made about the rise and decline of particular routes, of. The transsaharan commodity trade presented by christopher rose hemispheres summer teachers institute 2003 june 9, 2003 why discuss the transsaharan trade as part of a workshop dealing with issues of food, cultural contact, and migration. So it is hard to understand the importance of trans saharan trade without understanding its importance for society, in terms of organisation and belief. The 19th century jihads in west africa affected the transsaharan trade, but did not lead to its decline rather commerce boomed as a result of the peace and establishment of emirates after the jihads. For example, west africa had trade links with east africa. The traffic in gold was spurred by the demand for and.
This occurred in west africa with the transsaharan trade. By the early 16th century, european trading bases, the factories established on the coast since 1445, and trade with the wealthier europeans became of prime importance to west africa. Transsaharan trade generally began to decline with the entrance of european traders and adventurers into africa beginning from the sixteenth century. By the seventeenth century, the trade was in full swing, reaching a peak towards the end of the eighteenth century. To what extent did transsaharan trade lead to ghanas wealth and success. The three other slave trades the transsaharan, red sea, and indian ocean slave trades are much older and predate the transatlantic slave trade. Decline of transsaharan trade the portuguese journeys around the west african coast opened up new avenues for trade between europe and west africa. Answers 1 explain six factors that facilitated the growth and development of trans saharan trade solved explain six factors that facilitated the growth and development of trans saharan trade. The transsaharan trade increased after about 300 c. The economic organization of the transsaharan slave trade. Commodity trade and development the african economic history. Some factors that led to the rise of trans saharan trade were the spread of islam and the trading between the north and west.
The sahara desert is a hot, desolate landscape to travel through that would have been a troublesome barrier between africa, europe, and the east. Various factors facilitated the development of the trans saharan trade. Transsaharan trade, conducted across the sahara desert, was a web of commercial interactions between the arab world north africa and. The route is paved except for a 200 km section in northern niger, but border restrictions still hamper traffic.
Gold and saltthe exchange of goodsthe decline of ghana and the rise of mali. Sub saharan africa has larger regions with many micro regions d. A historical geography of the transsaharan trade january 2011 in book. This trade was conducted between the north african traders and their counterparts in. Social and economic impact of the transsaharan trade in africa north and south of the sahara. North african merchants, who migrated to damergu from ghadames or from diaspora communities in hausa towns, moved south after the decline of transsaharan. African empires that controlled trans saharan trade in gold, salt, and other precious commodities. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In this lesson we explore the beginning, height, and decline of the trans saharan trade and the various states in west africa which thrived off the trade. It is thus appropriate to scrutinize the organization of transsaharan trade in terms of its principal commodity. Lastly, slaves were widely used as currency, with important implications for.
During the trans saharan slave trade, slaves were taken from south of the saharan desert. This disruption to trade led to a dramatic decline in the importance of these cities and the. The largest and most studied of the slave trades is the transatlantic trade slave trade, where beginning in the. Transsaharan slave trade was the most affected by the european with the emergence of transatlantic slave trade, which diverted the direction of flow from the desert to the ocean. Despite the fact that the rulers were islamic and supported islamic universities the vast majority of the populace remained nonmuslim. The growth of interregional trade was encouraged by innovations in existing transportation technologies. The causes and consequences of africas slave trades nathan nunn1 august 2008. Doc cause and effect of the ancient transsaharan trade in. As a consequence, the transsaharan gold trade declined. It is not a detailed study of the arab world, nor of africa, but an outline of key points which will help with understanding the slave trade in this part of the world.
The african union and african development bank support the transsahara highway from algiers to lagos via tamanrasset which aims to stimulate transsaharan trade. At their height 8th century until the 17th century they served as a cultural highway for the. The three other slave trades the trans saharan, red sea, and indian ocean slave trades are much older and predate the trans atlantic slave trade. Describe the development and decline of the sudanic kingdoms ghana, mali, songhai. Transsaharan trade requires travel across the sahara north and south to reach subsaharan. It is estimated that until 1400 23 of the worlds supply. Gao was the capital and important in trade and was an important city along the trans saharan trade. Answersexhaustion of the main trading commodities like salt and gold. The arrival of europeans on the west african coast and their establishment of slave ports in various parts of the continent triggered a continuous process of exploitation of africas human resources, labor, and commodities. The economic, political, and social impact of the atlantic. Improved transportation technologies and commercial practices led to an increased volume of trade and expanded the geographical range of existing trade routes, including the transsaharan trade network. The songhay meet their demise in 1591 when they took on a moroccan army armed with musket gun. Architecture of the subsaharan civilizations boundless art. The transsaharan gold trade 7th14th century essay the.
Describe reasons for the decline of transsaharan trade. North africa had declined in both political and economic. Doc cause and effect of the ancient transsaharan trade. Its parliament passed laws to abolish the trade in 1807 and to stop the use of slaves in british territories in 1833, though it granted slaveowners twenty million pounds in compensation for the latter equivalent to over. The saharan trade extended from the subsaharan west african kingdoms across the sahara desert to europe and linked the ghana, mali and songhai empires to the european world and the middle east.
After two centuries of decline, the city of chinguetti was refounded in the th century. The trans saharan trade was an important gateway for the spread of islam in africa. This trade route traveled across the sahel, the north african coast, europe and the levant. All of the empires arose in the area then known as the western sudan, a vast region of savanna between the sahara desert to the north and the tropical rain forests along the guinean coast to the south. Social and economic impact of the transsaharan trade in. The trade route was in operation between the seventh and 14th centuries, expanding the more established trade route of the silk road. The beginning of the transsaharan and red sea slave trades dates back to at least 600ad lovejoy, 2000. With an economy built on the basis of the trans saharan trade, the mali empire was the largest and longest lasting kingdom in the history of west africa. Moroccan attack on songhai empiretimbuktu, and advancements in maritime travel, along with shifting economic and political contexts all combined to the decline of transsaharan trade. The trans saharan trade played an important role in the rise of states in the senegambia region and the western sudan, in general. A trans european union difference in the decline in trans. Some factors that led to the rise of transsaharan trade were the spread of islam and the trading between the north and west.
The growth of interregional trade in luxury goods was encouraged by innovations. The logistics of travel through the desert heat, lack of water, etc. The trade led to development of urbanisation for example towns such as gao, timbuktu and jenne. The importance of transsaharan trade has certainly been exaggerated in the. As a major terminal in the gold, salt, and slave trade of the transsaharan.
Results in 2005, a high trans menu provided above 30 g of itfa in five eu countries in eastern europe. During these trades, slaves were taken from land south of the saharan desert, inland of the red sea, and inland of the coast of eastern africa, and were shipped to northern africa and the middle east. Cause and effect of the ancient transsaharan trade in west africa edice hua ancient african civilizations hist12521. A high trans menu was defined as a large serving of french fries and nuggets, 100 g of microwave popcorn and 100 g of biscuitswaferscakes. Though the trade is all but dead, slavery still existed in various forms in regions that were sources of slaves during the transsaharan slave trade. Jan 11, 2014 the trans saharan trade routes, the most significant of these paths, were used as means of transportation across the sahara to other areas such as north africa and europe. The great mali empire, mansa musa, and the saharan trade. Jul 23, 2015 trans saharan slave trade was conducted within the ambits of the trans saharan trade, otherwise referred to as the arab trade. Transsaharan trade was the transit of goods between subsaharan africa and the northern arab and european worlds.
With an economy built on the basis of the transsaharan trade, the mali empire was the largest and longest lasting kingdom in the history of west africa. To fill in these gaps, todays lesson will explore what has come to be known as the trans saharan caravan trade, a system of extensive trade routes that connected the saharan region to the outside. Although muslims lost political power, muslim communities made rapid inroads in the west africa during the early 20th century. The african union and african development bank support the trans sahara highway from algiers to lagos via tamanrasset which aims to stimulate trans saharan trade. The transatlantic slave trade began around the midfifteenth century when portuguese interests in africa moved away from the fabled deposits of gold to a much more readily available commodity slaves. The impact of the transsaharan trade the transsaharan trade had several consequences. Trans saharan trading netwrks swahili trading cities religious syncretism impact of bantu migrations o as they moved, they spread their culture, including language, agricultural practices and ironmaking technology rise and decline of sudanic kingdoms o ghana was a wealthy trade empire gold, collapsed around 1200. The transsaharan trade routes, the most significant of these paths, were used as means of transportation across the sahara to other areas such as north africa and europe. Manuscript culture, arabic literacy and intellectual history in muslim africa pp. This article focuses on damergu, a sahelian region located on the tripolikano route, and traces the reactions of north african merchants, local tuareg rulers, and ordinary villagers to an increase and then an abrupt decline in transsaharan trade.
Transsaharan trading netwrks swahili trading cities religious syncretism impact of bantu migrations o as they moved, they spread their culture, including language, agricultural practices and ironmaking technology rise and decline of sudanic kingdoms o ghana. The transsaharan trade route was a trade route that traveled across the sahara desert. The rise and fall of the slave trade openlearn open. These trade routes have always been popular for people, even prior to the kingdoms of the western and central sudan. All of these led to cultural exchanges between the arabs from north africa and the people from western sudan. Colonization of the african continent by the european powers from the 19th century i. The disintegration of west african political structures, the contemporary economic decline of northern africa, and the european competition on the guinea coast made the caravan trade less profitable. Transsaharan slave trade was conducted within the ambits of the transsaharan trade, otherwise referred to as the arab trade. Nov 11, 2014 social and economic impact of the trans saharan trade in africa north and south of the sahara. Trans saharan trade, conducted across the sahara desert, was a web of commercial interactions between the arab world north africa and the persian gulf and sub saharan africa. The rise of west african empires a student essay hubpages.
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