Trade Routes

The trade routes of Ancient Africa played an important role in the

economy of many African Empires. Goods from Western and
Central Africa were traded across trade routes to faraway places
like Europe, the Middle East, and India.

What did they trade?

The main items traded were gold and salt. The gold mines of
West Africa provided great wealth to West African Empires such
as Ghana and Mali. Other items that were commonly traded
included ivory, kola nuts, cloth, slaves, metal goods, and beads.

Major Trade Cities

As trade developed across Africa, major cities developed as

centers for trade. In Western Africa the major trade centers were
cities such as Timbuktu, Gao, Agadez, Sijilmasas, and Djenne.
Along the coast of North Africa sea port cities developed such as
Marrakesh, Tunis, and Cairo. The port city of Adulis on the Red
Sea was also an important trade center.
Routes Across the Sahara Desert

The major trade routes moved goods across the Sahara

Desert between Western/Central Africa and the port trade centers
along the Mediterranean Sea. One important trade route went
from Timbuktu across the Sahara to Sijilmasa. Once the goods
reached Sijilmasa they might be moved to many places including
the port cities of Marrakesh or Tunis. Other trade routes included
Gao to Tunis and Cairo to Agadez.

Caravans

Traders moved their goods across the Sahara in large groups

called caravans. Camels were the main mode of transportation
and were used to carry goods and people. Sometimes slaves
carried goods as well. Large caravans were important because
they offered protection from bandits. A typical caravan would have
around 1,000 camels with some caravans having over 10,000
camels.

Caravan by Unknown
The Camel

The camel was the most important part of the caravan. Without
the camel, trade across the Sahara would have been next to
impossible. Camels are uniquely adapted to survive long periods
without water. They also can survive large changes in body
temperature allowing them to withstand the heat of the day and
the cold of night in the desert.

History

Camels were first domesticated by the Berbers of North Africa

around 300 CE. With the use of camels trade routes began to
form between cities across the Sahara Desert. African trade
reached its height, however, after the Arabs had conquered North
Africa. Islamic traders entered the region and began to trade for
gold and slaves from Western Africa. The trade routes remained
an important part of the African economy throughout the Middle
Ages until the 1500s.

Interesting Facts about the Trade Routes of Ancient Africa

• Before a trip across the desert, camels would be fattened up
to prepare for the journey.
• The religion of Islam was spread throughout Western Africa
through Muslim traders.
• Islam helped to encourage trade because it lowered crime
rates through Islamic law and also provided a common
language (Arabic).
• Muslim traders who lived in West Africa became known as
the Dyula people and were part of the wealthy merchant
caste.
• Camels have a double row of eyelashes to protect their eyes
from the sand and the sun. They can also close their nostrils
to keep out the sand.
• It took the typical caravan around 40 days to cross the
Sahara Desert moving at around 3 miles per hour.
1) What major landform did many of the trade routes between Western
Africa and the Mediterranean have to cross?

Andes Mountains
!

Mount Kilimanjaro
!

Sahara Desert
!

Congo River Basin

!

African Rainforest
!
2) What was the main mode of transportation along the African trade
routes?

Horses
!

Camels
!

Elephants
!

Trains
!

Cars
!
3) What was the main reason that traders crossed the desert in large
groups?

For protection from bandits

!
 For entertainment and company
!

They could travel faster in large groups

!

They needed less water in large groups

!

To have a wide variety of food

!
4) Which of the following was a typical trade good of the African trade
routes?

Slaves
!

Gold
!

Ivory
!

Salt
!

All of the above

!
5) True or False: The typical caravan on a trade route crossing the Sahara
Desert had around 1,000 camels.

TRUE
!

FALSE
!
!

!
6) Which of the following was a major port city of North Africa?

Timbuktu
!

Gao
!

London
!

Tunis
!

New York
!
7) What are large groups of camels used to transport goods called?

Dunes
!

Oases
!

Caravans
!

Nomads
!
 Savannas
!
8) Which of the following is a feature that helps camels in crossing the
desert?

They get their energy from the Sun

!

They can go long periods without water

!

They can eat sand for food

!

All of the above

!

None of the above

!
9) What religion spread throughout the region through Arab traders?

Islam
!

Judaism
!

Hinduism
!

Buddhism
!

Taoism
!
10) How long did it take the typical caravan to cross the Sahara Desert?
 8 hours
!

3 days
!

2 weeks
!

40 days
!

6 months
!