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West African empires like Ghana and Mali thrived on . They controlled key routes, exchanging , , and slaves for goods from North Africa and beyond. This trade brought immense wealth and power to these kingdoms.

The gold-salt trade was especially crucial. Gold from West African mines was exchanged for salt from Saharan deposits. This commerce fueled the rise of great cities like Timbuktu and spread Islam across the region.

Trade Routes in West Africa

Ghana and Mali Empires' Control of Trade

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Top images from around the web for Ghana and Mali Empires' Control of Trade
  • The controlled trade routes between the Sahara Desert and the Senegal and Niger Rivers from the 8th to the 11th century CE
    • Key trade cities included Kumbi Saleh, Awdaghust and Koumbi Saleh
  • The , which lasted from 1235 to 1670 CE, controlled trade in the upper Niger River valley and the Sahel
    • Timbuktu and Djenné were important trade centers

Major Trade Routes and Commodities

  • Gold from the Bambuk and Boure goldfields was a major commodity traded by both the Ghana and Mali Empires
  • The Koumbi Saleh to Sijilmasa trade route transported gold, and slaves across the Sahara Desert to North Africa in exchange for salt, copper, cloth and beads
  • The Walata trade route linked the Mali Empire with the Hausa Kingdoms and Arab traders of the central and eastern Sahara
  • The Taghaza salt mines supplied salt that was traded along trans-Saharan routes

Commodities of West African Empires

Gold and Salt

  • Gold was the most important commodity in the trans-Saharan trade and a major source of wealth and power for West African rulers
    • Ghana was known as the "Land of Gold"
  • Salt from the Taghaza mines and other Saharan sites was a vital commodity for preserving food and human health in the sub-Saharan region
    • Salt was often traded for gold, pound for pound

Other Key Commodities

  • Copper was mined in the Sahara and traded to West Africa where it was used to make jewelry, coins, and ingots
    • Copper was alloyed with gold to make brass
  • Ivory from African elephants was carved into decorative objects and exported to North Africa, the Middle East and Europe
  • Slaves were captured in wars and raids and traded across the Sahara to North Africa and the Mediterranean
    • The slave trade expanded in the later centuries of the Mali Empire
  • Textiles, beads, dates, and manufactured goods from North Africa and the Mediterranean world were traded to West Africa

West African Empires and Trans-Saharan Trade

Ghana Empire's Control of Trade

  • The Ghana Empire's wealth and power depended on its ability to tax and control the trans-Saharan gold trade
    • Ghana's capital Koumbi Saleh was a major terminus of the trade routes

Mali Empire's Expansion and Reputation

  • The Mali Empire expanded its power by seizing the main trans-Saharan trade routes from the Ghana Empire
    • Malian cities like Timbuktu became major centers of trade, Islamic learning and culture
  • 's famous pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 CE established Mali's reputation as a wealthy gold-producing empire
    • Musa brought so much gold that its value declined in Egyptian markets

Role of Muslim Traders and Scholars

  • North African Berber and Arab traders were the main carriers of the trans-Saharan trade
  • Muslim scholars and advisors at the Mali courts facilitated diplomatic and commercial relations across the Sahara
  • Control of the Taghaza salt mines and trans-Saharan trade routes enabled Mali to dominate the salt and gold trade and extract taxes and tribute from local chiefs

Impact of Trade on West African Empires

Economic and Political Impact

  • Trade was the fundamental source of wealth and power for the Ghana and Mali Empires
    • Taxes on trade funded the expansion of their armies and territories
  • Control of trade routes enabled Ghana and Mali to become the dominant powers in the Western Sudan region of sub-Saharan Africa

Cultural and Religious Impact

  • The gold trade stimulated the development of advanced urban centers and Islamic cultural institutions in cities like Koumbi Saleh, Timbuktu and Gao
    • Timbuktu had a famous mosque and university
  • Trans-Saharan trade facilitated the spread of Islam, Arabic literacy and Islamic law and scholarship into sub-Saharan West Africa

Dynastic Shifts and Decline

  • The wealth from trade enabled Mali to absorb Ghana and the Songhai Empire to eventually absorb Mali
    • But the empires declined as trade shifted to the coasts with the advent of European maritime contact in the 15th century
  • The trans-Saharan slave trade had a negative impact on West African societies, and established a foundation for the later Atlantic slave trade
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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.
Glossary
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