How did international trade begin in Africa? Historians believe that the ancient empire of Ghana was the first African civilization to base its economy primarily on trade. The origins of the Ghana Empire (not to be confused with the modern African nation of Ghana) are mysterious and are still debated. However, many historians believe that that the Ghana Empire was founded by nomadic tribes from North Africa. The prosperity of the Ghana Empire was mainly due to its role as an intermediary, or "middleman," between gold producers to its south and salt traders to its north. Learn more about the empire of Ghana in this video.
What we know for sure about the empire of Ghana is that by 800 CE it was a large and powerful civilization, and that it flowered between the 11th and 14th centuries. One legend says that gold was so plentiful in the empire that the ruler of Ghana claimed all gold nuggets for his own, but allowed gold dust to be traded for import--mainly for textiles and ornaments. Reports from Arab travelers describe a huge domed pavilion where the ruler held court, surrounded by horses with gold-studded harnesses, and dogs with gold- and silver-studded collars. Ghana was just one example of the impact of trade on Africa in the Middle Ages. The rich history of African civilizations during this time is just now beginning to be fully understood, as historians are bringing to light Africa's impressive history of trade, technology, literature, and art.
On the map below, identify the route that salt would have traveled from North Africa to the Empire of Ghana.
Question
The salt that was traded within the Ghana Empire was mined in North Africa. What kind of innovation was required to get the salt across the vast Sahara Desert to Ghana?
