Trans Saharan Trade Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Trans Saharan Trade?

The Trans-Saharan Trade, also known as the Saharan Trade, was an ancient network of commercial routes that extended across the Sahara Desert. The trade routes connected sub-Saharan Africa to North Africa and Europe, facilitating the exchange of goods, technology and ideas between these regions. These trading activities left a lasting impact on African history and culture.The earliest evidence of Trans-Saharan Trade dates back to the 3rd century BC when caravans of camels transported luxury goods such as gold, textiles and salt from North Africa to West African kingdoms. As time passed more commodities were added to this trade route including slaves, iron weapons, glassware, spices and ivory. This trade played an important role in the development and spread of both Islam religion in Africa as well as transnational political networks between rulers in North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. The Trans-Saharan Trade also had a major effect on social stratification throughout the region; it allowed for a system where people with access to resources were able to accumulate wealth from trading activities while those without access were pushed further into poverty. In addition to its economic implications this trade route had a major cultural impact throughout Sub-Saharan Africa by introducing new religions like Christianity or Islam that would eventually become part of African culture today. Overall the Trans Saharan Trade was an essential element for connecting different parts of Europe and Africa together; it provided resources that allowed cities like Timbuktu or Gao in Mali become wealthy trading centers while at same time impacting African culture through religious diffusion or social stratification among other things.