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The trans – saharan trade

Origin:

• This was the trade which was carried out across the Sahara desert between the barbers of North Africa and the Negroes (Africans) of western Sudan/west Africa
• It is not clear when the trade started but it is said to have started in the 3rd or 4th century.
• The trade started after the Roman occupation of North Africa and Exploration of Western Sudan.
• Initially the volume of trade was smaller due to transport and communication problems
• Later especially in the 7th C when the Arabs conquered N. Africa and introduced camels for transport, trade also increased.
• The Trans – Saharan trade started due to the desire for certain goods by the Berbers and the Negroes i.e. gold by barbers and salt by the Negroes.
• The barbers employed the Tuaregs who stayed in the desert to guide, protect and at time to send them to Western Sudan for goods’
• Initially there were three trade routes used in the trade i.e. the Western, central and Eastern trade routes. .

Factors for the development of the trans sahara trade.

• The high demand of salt by the Africans and gold by the Berbers.
• The introduction of horses and camels.
• The development of trade routes.

• Introduction of Islam
• The rise of western Sudanic Empires.
• Political stability in western Sudan.
• Introduction of Arabic language.
• The rise of great leaders.
• The introduction of cowrie shells.
• The conquest of North Africa by the Arabs in 640 and 660 AD.
• The food supply grown on the fertile western Sudan land encouraged traders.
• Lack of geographical barriers like mountains, lakes made the traders to move easily from North to western Sudan.
• The delay in the discovery of gold in other places led to its rise.
• The availably of capital by the Berbers from North Africa
• Presence of Tuaregs who acted as middle men and guides.
• The rise of trading cities like Gao, Timbuktu acted as trading centers.
• The settlement of some Berbers in North Africa and Western Sudan encouraged trade.

Organization of The Trans Saharan Trade

• It was carried out between the Berbers of North Africa and the Africans (Negroes) of western Sudan.
• The first mean of transport was human portage.
• Later, camels and horses were introduced by the Arabs.
• The medium of exchange at first was barter trade where goods were exchanged for goods.
• Later, cowrie shells were introduced to act as money.
• The Berbers brought goods such as salt, guns, beads etc. and got from Western Africa goods like gold, ivory, slaves etc.
• At first trade was conducted silently i.e. silent trade (dumb trade) due to lack of common language.

• Later, Arabic Language was introduced and used in trade.
• In the Sahara desert the Berbers employed the Tuaregs to guide them and provide security.
• Traders moved in big groups of 50- 200 people for security purposes especially in the deserts.
• The Berbers were the main controllers and financers because they had a lot of capital.
• The main trading centers were Timbuktu, Gao, Jenne, Kano etc.
• The organizers of the trade in Western Sudan were African chiefs and kings.
• The Berbers also had agents in every trading centre in Western Sudan
• The kings and chiefs ensured safety of traders while in their areas.
• The kings also controlled the gold producing areas and safe guarded the trade routes.
• There were three or four trade routes ie the western trade route which started from Sijilmasa via Taghaza to Timbuktu. It was important for gold.
• There was also the central trade route which started from Tunis through Ghadames to Hausa land.
• There was also the Eastern trade route which started from Tripoli passed Egypt up to Kanem Bornu.
• There was also the Trans Continental trade route to western Sudan. Roles played by the berbers, negroes (africans) tuarages in the trans saharan trade.

These three groups played great roles in the Trans Saharan trade as seen below;

Berbers

• Served as source of market for the goods from West Africa i.e if gold, ivory etc.

• They were the financiers of trade because they had a lot of is capital.
• They organized trade caravans to western Sudan.
• They supplied goods like salt, beads, guns etc
• They introduced camels for transport.
• They spread Islam to West Africa which encouraged trade.
• They acted as middle men between North Africa and Western Sudan.
• They introduced Arabic language in the trade.
• They employed Africans and Tuaregs.

Tuaregs

• They served as middlemen between the berbers and Negroes
• They directed the berbers.
• They provided security to the berbers.
• They controlled the three trade routes in the desert i.e.
• Western, Eastern and central.
• They protected and maintained well the lakes which were the sources of water.
• They provided accommodation to the traders.

Africans (Negroes)

• They provided accommodation and shelters to the traders from N. Africa.
• They also provided the traders with food and water.
• They acted as porters i.e. carrying the goods of the traders. They also provided trade items like gold, ivory slaves etc.
• They also acted as middlemen between the interior societies and the berbers.
• They served as agents in West African cities e.g. Gao, Jenne, Kano etc.
• They guided the traders on their way back to N. Africa.
• They provided security to the traders.
• They organized market places where the trade took place.
• They collected goods to nearby market centers.

Problems faced by traders in the trans saharan trade.

• Language barrier
• Double coincidence due to barter system.
• Inadequate supply of some trade items like gold.
• Long journeys i.e. from North Africa to West Africa.
• Problem of standard measure of value.
• Transport problem.
• Insecurity i.e. the northern bend of river Niger.
• Desert wind which covered the traders.
• Desert heat.
• Accommodation problem.
• Sand storm which covered and made trade routes to disappear.
• Diseases e.g. influenza, malaria etc.
• Storage problems.
• Threats from local Africans who opposed slave trade.
• Wild animals like snakes.
• Shortage of water i.e. in 1805 around 200 traders and 1800 camels died of thirst.
• Inadequate capital affected trade as some traders could not afford to buy camels for transport.
• Heavy taxes imposed on the traders made goods very expensive.
• Unfavourable climate i.e. Much rainfall in the forest belts.

Factors for the decline / collapse of the trans saharan trade.

• The depletion of resources i.e. gold, salt, ivory etc.
• The Moroccan conquest of Songhai the last Empire of Western Sudan.
• The abolition of slave trade.
• The industrial revolution in Europe made the demand for slave trade to fall.
• The rise of Trans-Atlantic slave trade which was more p The Jihads caused insecurity.
• Wars among the West African states scared the traders.
• The cheap European goods that were brought to west market which were cheap with better quality.
• The Tuaregs attack of the traders threatened them.
• The construction of the railway line from Lagos to Kane in 1913 changed the mode of transport and eased transport instead of horses and camels hence the decline.
• High taxes imposed on the berbers by the African king: The disappearance of oasis made life difficult in the de the collapse of Songhai.
• The colonization of West Africa by the Europeans affected
• Epidermises e.g. plaque proved a threat to the traders
• Failure to pay back credits by some traders in the trade.
• The discovery of the Mediterranean Atlantic sea route coast of Africa diverted the trade to the coast.

effects/impacts of the trans saharan trade

• Many kings and chiefs became wealthy due to their participation in the trade eg. Mansa Musa and Askia Mohammed etc.
• Led to the rise of empires of West Africa e.g. Ghana, Songhai.
• Led to acquisition of guns in West Africa which led to i wars.
• Arabic language was introduced.
• Islam was introduced.
• Sharia laws were introduced.
• Inter-marriage.
• Many people were killed and taken during slave raids. Led to the development of industries e.g. mining industry Depletion of resources e.g. gold.
• Introduction of new goods i.e. mirrors, clothes.
• Local people lost confidence in their chiefs and kings.
• A new culture was introduced with new ways of eating, beliefs, marriage.
• Led to introduction of horses and camels.
• Trading centers developed into towns like Timbuktu, Gao etc.
• Trade routes developed into high ways and roads.
• Education was introduced based on koranic teaching.
• Trade provided employment to people eg Tuaregs.
• Led to the discovery of the West African coast by the Portuguese in the 15th century.
• It helped the kings and chiefs in West Africa to properly administer their large empires and states because of the taxes imposed on the traders.
• Improved standard of living due to importance of new goods i.e. Mirrors, clothes, soft drinks.
• Arabic architecture was introduced e.g. ways of building using stones, flats etc
• It created trade link between West Africa and the outside world.
• Led to the strengthening of West African armies with guns.
• Many traders later settled permanently in West Africa.
• Led to introduction of cowrie shells.

The Empire of Ghana

Origins

• It was the earliest empire of Western Sudan which developed on the foundation of the Trans Saharan Trade.
• It is not clear when the Empire was founded but according to the Arab writers like Ali-Faziri, Al-Bakri etc the Empire was founded between 500AD – 1200 AD.
• The Empire of Ghana covered the present day Senegal Mauritania and Mali.
• The other western Sudanic empires included Mali and Songhai.
• The Empire of Ghana was founded by the Soninke people were a branch of Mende speaking people.
• The capital of Ghana was Kumbi Saleh which was a big trading center
• The founders of Ghana (Soninke) had good trading ties with the Berber Chiefs and traders in the north which en it to develop.
• Initially the Soninke called the Empire Wagadu and later Arabs renamed it Ghana because of the king’s tittle, Ghana which meant “War Leader”.
• The king of Ghana had a title called Kaya Maghan which meant the lord of gold as he controlled all the Gold in Ghana
• Ghana was ruled by Tunkamanin, Basi who expanded included it to areas of Mandika, Wolof etc.
• Ghana developed in the fertile Savanna belt around the I River Niger and Senegal.

Factors for The Rise and Development of Ghana

• Participated in the Trans Saharan Trade.
• Had a strong standing army
• Practiced iron working i.e. made spears, hoes etc.
• Strong leaders Tunkamanin, Basi etc.
• Had a lot of gold at Wangara.
• It was located in the fertile savanna belt.
• It got revenue from the taxes imposed on the traders.
• Traders got tributes from the conquered states eg silla, Tekn
• Ghana’s neighbours were weak e.g. Tekur, Senkizi, Silla, Denkyira etc.
• There were no succession disputes due to the clear system (hereditary) of succession.
• It had a good system of administration headed by the king, assisted by the council of ministers.
• The Soninke were highly united.
• The king was considered Semi-divine (god) and therefore they had powers from the gods that assisted them in controlling the empire.
• The hospitability of the king of Ghana ie they allowed traders, Moslems to stay as long as they respected them.
• Islam led to its development, although the kings were traditional believers, they accepted freedom of worship which brought about the art of reading, writing etc.