AP World: 2.4-Trans-Saharan Trade Network

Summary

The video covers the trans-Saharan trade routes from 1200 to 1450, highlighting key innovations like camel caravans and saddles that facilitated trade across the vast desert. Goods such as gold, salt, and slaves were traded, contributing to the rise of wealthy states like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. Islam spread through these networks, enhancing political legitimacy for leaders like Mansa Musa of Mali. His legendary pilgrimage to Mecca, where he distributed gold, led to a currency crisis. The trans-Saharan trade network mirrored similar patterns seen in the Silk Road and Indian Ocean trade routes.

Takeaways

• 🐫 The Trans-Saharan trade routes, also called the Sand Roads, were crucial trade networks between 1200-1450.
• 🐪 Innovations such as camel caravans and camel saddles significantly increased trade across the vast Sahara desert.
• 💰 Key goods traded along this route included gold, salt, and slaves, primarily moving toward North Africa and the Arab world.
• 🏛️ Trade networks, like the Trans-Saharan route, contributed to the growth of powerful sub-Saharan states like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
• ☪️ These states adopted Islam, partly due to their trade connections, which led to political and religious unity in their leadership.
• 🌍 Leaders such as Sundiata and Mansa Musa of Mali used Islam to legitimize their rule, similar to the Islamic Caliphates.
• 🕌 Mansa Musa's famous pilgrimage to Mecca showcased Mali’s immense wealth, and his distribution of gold is said to have caused a currency crisis.
• 🚚 Increased trade through the Trans-Saharan route mirrored the rise in trade along the Indian Ocean and Silk Road networks during the same period.
• 📈 States involved in the Trans-Saharan trade became significantly wealthier and more powerful through their trade connections.
• 🕌 Islam spread into sub-Saharan Africa through the Trans-Saharan trade route, just as it did through other trade networks like the Indian Ocean.

Q & A

What are the Trans-Saharan trade routes also referred to as?

The Trans-Saharan trade routes are also referred to as the Sand Roads.

What technological innovations contributed to increased trade along the Trans-Saharan trade routes?

Innovations like the use of camel caravans and camel saddles contributed to increased trade along the Trans-Saharan trade routes.

Why were camel caravans important for the Trans-Saharan trade network?

Camel caravans were important because they allowed for the movement of goods across the vast Trans-Saharan desert, with some caravans consisting of hundreds or even over a thousand camels.

What were the main goods traded along the Trans-Saharan trade network?

The main goods traded along the Trans-Saharan trade network were gold, salt, and slaves.

Which regions were the primary destinations for slaves traded through the Trans-Saharan trade network?

The primary destinations for slaves traded through the Trans-Saharan trade network were North Africa and the Arab world.

How did trade networks impact the growth of states in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Trade wealth from the Trans-Saharan trade routes contributed to the growth of Sub-Saharan African states such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.

How did Islam influence the political structure of states like Mali?

In states like Mali, rulers saw Islam as a means to gain political legitimacy, with leaders like Sundiata and Mansa Musa adopting the Islamic tradition of being both the political and religious leaders.

Who was Mansa Musa and what was significant about his pilgrimage to Mecca?

Mansa Musa was a ruler of Mali who became famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca, during which he distributed so much gold that it is said to have caused inflation and a currency crisis.

What similarities are seen between the Trans-Saharan trade network and other trade routes like the Silk Road and the Indian Ocean trade network?

Similar to the Silk Road and Indian Ocean trade network, the Trans-Saharan trade network saw technological innovations that increased trade and the spread of religion, with Islam spreading through merchants.

How did the Trans-Saharan trade network influence the spread of Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Islam spread into Sub-Saharan Africa through the Trans-Saharan trade network, as North African merchants and rulers who traded along these routes adopted the religion, similar to how Islam spread through the Indian Ocean trade network.