Where was the gold-salt trade route?
Northern Africa
The Gold-Salt Trade The route began in Northern Africa in a commercial city known as Sidjilmassa ( near the present-day Moroccan-Algerian border). It passed through the salt-rich village of Taghaza, through the Sahara and finally to the gold region of the Ghana Empire known as Wangara.
What was the gold-salt trade?
What is gold-salt trade? Gold from Mali and other West African states was traded north to the Mediterranean, in exchange for luxury goods and, ultimately, salt from the desert. The merchants for these routes were often Berbers, who had extensive knowledge of how to navigate through the desert.
What countries were involved in the gold-salt trade?
Gold and salt trade via the Sahara Desert has been going on for many centuries. Gold from Timbuktu, a city in the modern-day West African country of Mali, and other West African states was traded north to the Mediterranean in exchange for luxury goods and, ultimately, salt from the desert.
What 3 kingdoms were a part of the gold-salt trade?
They are the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay.
How were Ghana and Mali different?
Ghana vs Mali Mali was more powerful and had a greater extant in terms of territories held. Both Empires made use of Gold to trade with other countries. Mali Empire was more international in nature than Ghana Empire and had contacts with many other countries of the world.
What is Ghana located?
Africa
Ghana/Continent
Situated on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea in western Africa, Ghana is bordered to the northwest and north by Burkina Faso, to the east by Togo, to the south by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the west by Côte d’Ivoire.
Why was the gold-salt trade important?
The gold-salt trade in Africa made Ghana a powerful empire because they controlled the trade routes and taxed traders. Control of gold-salt trade routes helped Ghana, Mali, and Songhai to become large and powerful West African kingdoms.
Why was gold and salt trade so important in Africa?
The people who lived in the desert of North Africa could easily mine salt, but not gold. They craved the precious metal that would add so much to their personal splendor and prestige. These mutual needs led to the establishment of long-distance trade routes that connected very different cultures.
Why was gold and salt of equal value in Africa?
Worth its Weight in Gold Salt was a highly valued commodity not only because it was unobtainable in the sub-Saharan region but because it was constantly consumed and supply never quite met the total demand.
What did Songhai trade?
Songhai encouraged trading with Muslims, such as the Berbers of the north. Great market places thrived in major cities where kola nuts, gold, ivory, slaves, spices, palm oil and precious woods were traded in exchange for salt, cloth, arms, horses and copper.
The gold-salt trade was an exchange of salt for gold between Mediterranean economies and West African countries during the Middle Ages.
Why was salt traded for gold in West Africa?
When Salt Was Traded for Gold: The Salt Trade of West Africa that Built Kingdoms and Spread Culture. In West Africa during the Medieval period, salt was traded for gold. This may seem astonishing as salt is a cheap commodity in today’s society. It may be added that salt is easily available today which was not the case in ancient times.
How did the Silk Road and gold salt trade affect civilization?
The Gold Salt trade and the silk road were two very important factors to the growth of civilization and advancements in technology. When the Silk road and Gold Salt trade first started it was only looked at like a way of life or a money making path. Little did they know the effect it would have on us all today.
How was salt transported on the salt trade route?
The salt, which was in the form of blocks, would then be loaded onto the backs of camels, and be transported to the south, where they were traded for gold. Camel caravan with blocks of salt, headed for the salt trade route.