Sand Roads and West African Trade

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Questions and Answers

What are Sand Roads?

Pattern of long distance trade which linked North Africa and the Mediterranean world with the land and peoples of interior West Africa.

How did the Sand Roads affect West African civilization?

They enriched, stimulated, and connected it to larger patterns of world history during the postclassical era.

What did North African coastal regions generate?

Cloth, glassware, weapons, books, and other manufactured goods.

Which animal was introduced to North Africa and the Sahara creating a major turning point in African commercial life?

The camel. Signup and view all the answers

What items were in high demand in the desert and Mediterranean basin?

African ivory, kola nuts, slaves, and gold. Signup and view all the answers

What items were in demand for Sudan peoples?

Horses, cloth, dates, various manufactured goods, and salt from rich deposits in the Sahara. Signup and view all the answers

What role did the Sahara play in trade?

Became a major international trade route that fostered new relationships among distant peoples. Signup and view all the answers

What could caravans comprise?

As many as 5000 camels and hundreds of people. Signup and view all the answers

When did the journey across the desert mostly take place?

Mostly at night. Signup and view all the answers

How long could the journey across the desert take?

Up to 70 days, covering fifteen to twenty-five miles per day. Signup and view all the answers

What happened between 500-1600 regarding the people of western and central Sudan?

They constructed a series of states, empires, and city-states reaching from the Atlantic coast to Lake Chad. Signup and view all the answers

What were city-states like Ghana, Mali, and Songhay characterized by?

Monarchies with elaborate court life and varying degrees of administrative complexity and military forces. Signup and view all the answers

What roles did male slaves take as West African civilization crystallized?

State officials, porters, craftsmen, miners harvesting salt, and agricultural laborers. Signup and view all the answers

How many slaves crossed the Sahara between 1100 and 1400 annually?

About 5500 slaves per year. Signup and view all the answers

What did Mali's rulers in the 14th century monopolize?

The import of strategic goods and reserved large nuggets of gold for themselves. Signup and view all the answers

What is Jenne-jeno known for?

Being the most well-known of the independent urban clusters that emerged based on metal goods exchange. Signup and view all the answers

What comprised the earliest long-distance trade within the Sudanic West African region?

Metal goods, cotton textiles, gold, and various food products. Signup and view all the answers

How did an Arab traveler describe the ruler of Ghana?

"The wealthiest King on the face of the earth because of his treasures and stocks of gold". Signup and view all the answers

Where were slaves put to work?

In the homes of the wealthy in Islamic North Africa. Signup and view all the answers

What developed in urban and commercial centers in Sudanic Africa?

Traders congregated and goods were exchanged. Signup and view all the answers

What did some urban and commercial centers become centers of manufacturing for?

Creating finely wrought beads, iron tools, or cotton textiles. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sand Roads Overview

Sand Roads facilitated long-distance trade linking North Africa, the Mediterranean, and interior West Africa.
They played a crucial role in enriching and connecting West African civilization during the postclassical era.

North African Contributions

Coastal regions in North Africa produced various goods: cloth, glassware, weapons, books, and other manufactured items.

Camel's Role

The introduction of the camel to North Africa and the Sahara significantly transformed African trade and commercial activities.

Trade Commodities

High-demand items in desert and Mediterranean regions included African ivory, kola nuts, slaves, and gold.
Sudanic peoples sought horses, cloth, dates, manufactured goods, and salt from Sahara deposits.

Sahara as Trade Route

The Sahara became a vital international trade corridor, fostering relationships among distant cultures.

Caravan Characteristics

Caravans could be massive, featuring up to 5,000 camels and hundreds of accompanying individuals.

Journey Details

Trade journeys typically occurred at night, lasting up to 70 days, covering 15-25 miles daily.

West African States Development (500-1600)

Western and central Sudan saw the construction of states, empires, and city-states extending from the Atlantic coast to Lake Chad.

City-States Attributes

Prominent city-states, such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhay, were monarchies with elaborate courts, varying military capabilities, and wealth from trans-Saharan trade taxation.

Slavery in West Africa

As West African civilization developed, male slaves were employed in various roles: state officials, porters, craftsmen, miners, and agricultural workers.

Slave Trade Statistics

Between 1100 and 1400, approximately 5,500 slaves crossed the Sahara annually.

Mali's Economic Control

In the 14th century, Mali's rulers monopolized strategic goods imports and hoarded large gold nuggets while allowing free gold dust exportation.

Jenne-jeno Significance

Jenne-jeno is renowned as an independent urban cluster that thrived on metal goods exchange.

Early Trade Routes

The earliest long-distance trade in Sudanic West Africa involved metal goods, cotton textiles, gold, and food products transported via boats on the Nile River and donkeys overland.

Ghana's Wealth

An Arab traveler referred to the ruler of Ghana as “the wealthiest King on the face of the earth,” highlighting his immense treasures and gold stocks.

Slavery's Regional Impact

Enslaved individuals worked in the households of wealthy Muslims in North Africa, with a smaller number sold in European markets.

Urban Commercial Centers

Several urban and commercial centers emerged in Sudanic Africa, becoming hotspots for trade and goods exchange.

Manufacturing Development

Some centers evolved into manufacturing hubs, producing finished goods like beads, iron tools, and cotton textiles, contributing to broader commerce networks.

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Description

Explore the intricacies of the Sand Roads, a significant trade network linking North Africa and West Africa. This quiz delves into how this trade route influenced West African civilization and its connections to global patterns during the postclassical era.