Trans-Saharan Trade Routes

Definition

The Trans-Saharan trade routes were vast networks of trading paths that traversed across the Sahara Desert in Africa. They linked West Africa with North Africa and other regions, enabling the exchange of goods such as gold, salt, ivory, and slaves.

Related terms

Sahara Desert: The largest hot desert in the world that posed challenges such as extreme heat and aridity for those traveling along the Trans-Saharan trade routes.

Camels: Animals known as 'ships of the desert' due to their ability to withstand long journeys without water. They were crucial for transportation across the harsh Sahara Desert.

Gold-Salt Trade: An important economic activity along the Trans-Saharan trade routes where gold from West Africa was traded for salt from North Africa.