Trans-Saharan trade and Africa before slavery

Trans-Saharan trade: camel caravans, gold and salt, Mali and Mansa Musa, and Africa before slavery. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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Across the desert

Mali and the Sahara: gold goes north, salt comes south.

Mansa Musa brought back scholars, teachers and architects.

The camel’s hump holds fat that gives energy. Salt was scarce and the body needs it, which made it so valuable. Mansa Musa raised money with taxes in gold and salt, and set up provinces run by governors. Timbuktu’s libraries held thousands of handwritten books.

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The Atlantic trade and sources

The triangular trade; the Middle Passage across the Atlantic; sugar, coffee and cotton from the Americas to Europe.
Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807 and slavery in 1834.
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Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary

Camel caravans crossed the Sahara in about two months, led by Berber peoples such as the Tuareg; an oasis gave water.
West Africa sent gold and ivory north; salt (dug at Saharan mines such as Taghaza), glass, rugs and knives came south.
Ghana → Mali → Songhai. Mansa Musa travelled to Mecca in 1324 and gave away so much gold that prices fell.
Islam spread with the trade; Timbuktu became a centre of Islamic learning with libraries.
Before the slave trade, West Africa had rich kingdoms with trade and learning.

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Memory trick

The desert swap: gold goes up (north), salt comes down (south), on a camel’s back.

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Important words

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Test yourself · Part 2

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