This means that areas producing salt had a valuable trade item, one that they could exchange for gold. In Medieval West Africa, salt led to the development of trade routes, and brought great wealth to the cities and states which they passed through. Salt Trade for Preservation . Salt has many uses, though it is primarily associated with food. The gold-salt trade was an exchange of salt for gold between Mediterranean economies and West African countries during the Middle Ages. West African kingdoms, such as the Soninke empire of Ghana and the empire of Mali that succeeded it, were rich in gold but lacked salt, a commodity that countries around the Mediterranean had in plenty. The Old Salt Route was a medieval trade route in Northern Germany, one of the ancient network of salt roads which were used primarily for the transport of salt and other staples. In Germany it was referred to as Alte Salzstraße. Salt was very valuable at that time; it was sometimes referred to as "white gold." Whoever controlled the salt trade also controlled the gold trade, & both were the principal economic pillars of various West African empires. Salt, both its production and trade, would dominate West African economies throughout the 2nd millennium CE, with sources and trade centres constantly changing hands as empires rose and fell.
Trade was even - an ounce of gold for an ounce of salt. The kingdom of Ghana did not have gold mines or salt mines, but Ghana got rich handling the trade of gold for salt. After a while, word reached the east coast of Africa about the riches to the west. All the east coast traders had to do was cross the Sahara to get there, One important trade route went from Timbuktu across the Sahara to Sijilmasa. Once the goods reached Sijilmasa they might be moved to many places including the port cities of Marrakesh or Tunis. Other trade routes included Gao to Tunis and Cairo to Agadez. Ancient West African gold trade routes. In the ancient empire of Mali, the most important industry for trading was the gold industry. Much gold was traded through the Sahara desert, to the countries on the North African coast. The traders would travel by caravans, on camels.
These mutual needs led to the establishment of long-distance trade routes that connected very different cultures. Camel caravans from North Africa carried bars of
16 Oct 2015 Those who controlled these deposits traded salt for slaves, gold, ivory, craft goods, malaguetta pepper, kola nuts, and foodstuffs from the forest of the world -- including salt, gold, and ivory. Gold was abundant in West and Central Africa, while helped keep thieves away from the trade routes. It was only a matter of time before Arab traders came down from North Africa to trade salt for gold, kola nuts and slaves (salt mining used slave labor to mine the This means that areas producing salt had a valuable trade item, one that they could exchange for gold. In Medieval West Africa, salt led to the development of trade routes, and brought great wealth to the cities and states which they passed through. Salt Trade for Preservation . Salt has many uses, though it is primarily associated with food. The gold-salt trade was an exchange of salt for gold between Mediterranean economies and West African countries during the Middle Ages. West African kingdoms, such as the Soninke empire of Ghana and the empire of Mali that succeeded it, were rich in gold but lacked salt, a commodity that countries around the Mediterranean had in plenty. The Old Salt Route was a medieval trade route in Northern Germany, one of the ancient network of salt roads which were used primarily for the transport of salt and other staples. In Germany it was referred to as Alte Salzstraße. Salt was very valuable at that time; it was sometimes referred to as "white gold."
They exchanged gold for salt. Trade in Ancient West Africa. The civilizations that flourished in ancient West Africa were mainly based on trade, so successful West African leaders tended to be peacemakers rather than warriors. Caravans of camel riding merchants from North Africa crossed the Sahara beginning in the seventh century of the Start studying Gold salt trade. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Search. Create. Gold salt trade. STUDY. Flashcards. Learn. Write. Spell. Test. PLAY. Match. Along trade routes. What was the kingdom of Ghana. Land of gold. Soninke. Rulers extended power of the kingdom which meant control of Comparing And Contrasting The Silk And Gold Trade Routes Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website.