Challenges faced by the trans-Saharan traders
a) There was Communication barrier due to lack of a common language for transactions.
This was a challenge during the pioneer years.
b) Traveling long distances for many months, usually up to three months, across the
desert was tedious and stressful.
c) Traveling under extreme weather conditions; too hot during the day and too cold at
night.
d) Scarcity of water and food during the journeys. The traders suffered serious sickness
due to such extreme weather variations.
e) There were constant Attacks by hostile communities who sometimes robbed them of
their merchandize.
f) Traders were sometimes attacked by insects like scorpions and wild animals.
g) The traders sometimes suffered from Loss of direction due to the vastness of the
desert.
h) Exposure to frequent sandstorms which killed many traders.
i) Sometimes wars between kingdoms disrupted trade.
Impact of the trans-Saharan trade
Positive impact;
a) The trade stimulated the emergence of urban centres along the trade routes. Towns
like Taghaza and Timbuktu developed due to the production of trade commodities like
salt and gold respectively.
b) Profits from the trade stimulated the growth of strong empires as the kings levied
taxes on the caravan traders. Examples of such empires include Mali, Ghana and
Songhai.
c) Introduction of horses in the western Sudan belt led to strengthening of the state
armies as horses were used by the armies to boost security in the region.
d) A class of wealthy traders emerged in western Sudan. These were mainly the local
merchants who interacted with the merchants from North Africa.
e) The trade stimulated the emergence and growth of smithing technology and industry.
,137
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f) The trade led to the introduction of iron tools in wider areas of western Sudan. This
boosted agricultural production in western Sudan and ensured food security in the area.
g) There was population increase in western Sudan due to increased food production as a
result of better farming tools.
h) It also enhanced contacts between North Africa and the Suda n belt. This facilitated
the spread of European goods and ideas between the peoples of the two regions.
i) The trade facilitated the spread of Islamic religion in the Sudan belt. For example, the
Hausa traders were converted to Islam.
j) There was introduction of the Islamic system of education in the Sudan belt. The
University of Timbuktu for example, teaching mainly Islamic syllabus, was one of the
institutions that emerged as a result of the trade.
k) Sharia law was introduced in the states that accepted Islam in western Sudan.
l) The trade led to the introduction of the Arabic architectural designs in West Africa.
m) The Islamic and Arabic culture-language, mode of dressing and eating mannerisms
also spread to western Sudan.
n) The mode of transport in the region was remarkably revolutionized by theintroduction
of camels and horses making transport efficient.
Negative impacts:
a) The trade increased warfare in the region as communities gained access to firearms
and horses. Thousands of people lost their lives.
b) Many people in the western Sudan belt were captured and taken into slavery to meet
the demands of the trans-Saharan traders.
c) The demand for ivory also led to the destruction of wildlife in western Sudan.
Decline of the trans-Saharan trade.
The trade reached its climax at around AD 8th c. by 15th c, the trade had declined due to
,the following reasons;
a) Exhaustion of the salt and gold minefields as well as other like ivory. This
discouraged traders from coming to West Africa.
b) Increased political instability in the region due to so many wars of conquest created
insecurity to the traders.
c) The desert conditions e.g. harsh weather, dangerous insects, snakes and robbers
discouraged many traders from the activity.
d) Invasion of the region by the almorarids and the Tuaregs increased insecurity even
more along the trade routes. Hence traders discontinued their involvement.
e) Moroccan invasion of western Sudan in the 16th century undermined the trade.
f) The growth of the trans-Atlantic trade attracted some of the trans-Saharan traders thus
reducing the volume of commodities that were sold.
138
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g) Colonization of west and North Africa by Europeans who took over the resources
hence African activities were undermined.
h) Invasion of North Africa by the ottoman Turks created insecurity along the caravan
routes leading to decline of the trade.
i) Anti-slave trade pressure from the British and eventual abolition of slave trade reduced
trade profits.
j) The establishment of commercial ports on the western African coast and the use of
navigable rivers by the 16th century AD rendered caravan trade unpopular as it was slow,
cumbersome and risky.
International trade
This is a type of trade that involves the exchange of goods between different countries in
one continent or beyond the continent.
Examples of international trade include
, a) The Indian Ocean trade
b) The trans-Atlantic trade.
The trans-Atlantic trade
The trans-Atlantic trade involved Europe, Africa and the Americas thus earning it the
name Triangular trade. It was also called the trans-Atlantic slave trade because it
involved crossing the Atlantic and the main commodity was slaves.The trade was fueled
by the technological innovations especially in Spain and Portugal which facilitated sea
transport.The trade happened at a time when the Europeans were keen on expanding
overseas (15th and 16th c AD) for the following reasons;
a. They were searching for the sea route to India and Far East to get the spices and other
commodities. The Turks had blocked the land route.
b. The Europeans wanted to acquire gold and other precious items that believed to be in
existence in Africa.
c. The Europeans wanted to revenge against the Muslims who had colonized the Iberian
Peninsula between 8th c and 1491 AD.
d. They were motivated by the desire to spread their civilization to the backward areas of
the world.
e. European countries such as Portugal and Spain also wanted to increase their
geographical knowledge.
Origin of the trans-Atlantic trade
The exact date when the first slave was captured and sold was 1441 AD. Young
Portuguese sailor named Ahtam Goncalvez captured a man and a woman on the Western
Sahara coast whom he presented to Prince Henry the Navigator, the Portuguese king, thus
setting off a chain of reaction in the trade. The Portuguese built a fort on the Arguin
139
FOR ALL SECONDARY SCHOOL MATERIALS CONTACT CHAMPIONS K.C.S.E REVISION ON 0725733640 139
Island on the coast of Mauritania in 1445 which was used as a base for buying slaves and
a) There was Communication barrier due to lack of a common language for transactions.
This was a challenge during the pioneer years.
b) Traveling long distances for many months, usually up to three months, across the
desert was tedious and stressful.
c) Traveling under extreme weather conditions; too hot during the day and too cold at
night.
d) Scarcity of water and food during the journeys. The traders suffered serious sickness
due to such extreme weather variations.
e) There were constant Attacks by hostile communities who sometimes robbed them of
their merchandize.
f) Traders were sometimes attacked by insects like scorpions and wild animals.
g) The traders sometimes suffered from Loss of direction due to the vastness of the
desert.
h) Exposure to frequent sandstorms which killed many traders.
i) Sometimes wars between kingdoms disrupted trade.
Impact of the trans-Saharan trade
Positive impact;
a) The trade stimulated the emergence of urban centres along the trade routes. Towns
like Taghaza and Timbuktu developed due to the production of trade commodities like
salt and gold respectively.
b) Profits from the trade stimulated the growth of strong empires as the kings levied
taxes on the caravan traders. Examples of such empires include Mali, Ghana and
Songhai.
c) Introduction of horses in the western Sudan belt led to strengthening of the state
armies as horses were used by the armies to boost security in the region.
d) A class of wealthy traders emerged in western Sudan. These were mainly the local
merchants who interacted with the merchants from North Africa.
e) The trade stimulated the emergence and growth of smithing technology and industry.
,137
FOR ALL SECONDARY SCHOOL MATERIALS CONTACT CHAMPIONS K.C.S.E REVISION ON 0725733640 137
f) The trade led to the introduction of iron tools in wider areas of western Sudan. This
boosted agricultural production in western Sudan and ensured food security in the area.
g) There was population increase in western Sudan due to increased food production as a
result of better farming tools.
h) It also enhanced contacts between North Africa and the Suda n belt. This facilitated
the spread of European goods and ideas between the peoples of the two regions.
i) The trade facilitated the spread of Islamic religion in the Sudan belt. For example, the
Hausa traders were converted to Islam.
j) There was introduction of the Islamic system of education in the Sudan belt. The
University of Timbuktu for example, teaching mainly Islamic syllabus, was one of the
institutions that emerged as a result of the trade.
k) Sharia law was introduced in the states that accepted Islam in western Sudan.
l) The trade led to the introduction of the Arabic architectural designs in West Africa.
m) The Islamic and Arabic culture-language, mode of dressing and eating mannerisms
also spread to western Sudan.
n) The mode of transport in the region was remarkably revolutionized by theintroduction
of camels and horses making transport efficient.
Negative impacts:
a) The trade increased warfare in the region as communities gained access to firearms
and horses. Thousands of people lost their lives.
b) Many people in the western Sudan belt were captured and taken into slavery to meet
the demands of the trans-Saharan traders.
c) The demand for ivory also led to the destruction of wildlife in western Sudan.
Decline of the trans-Saharan trade.
The trade reached its climax at around AD 8th c. by 15th c, the trade had declined due to
,the following reasons;
a) Exhaustion of the salt and gold minefields as well as other like ivory. This
discouraged traders from coming to West Africa.
b) Increased political instability in the region due to so many wars of conquest created
insecurity to the traders.
c) The desert conditions e.g. harsh weather, dangerous insects, snakes and robbers
discouraged many traders from the activity.
d) Invasion of the region by the almorarids and the Tuaregs increased insecurity even
more along the trade routes. Hence traders discontinued their involvement.
e) Moroccan invasion of western Sudan in the 16th century undermined the trade.
f) The growth of the trans-Atlantic trade attracted some of the trans-Saharan traders thus
reducing the volume of commodities that were sold.
138
FOR ALL SECONDARY SCHOOL MATERIALS CONTACT CHAMPIONS K.C.S.E REVISION ON 0725733640 138
g) Colonization of west and North Africa by Europeans who took over the resources
hence African activities were undermined.
h) Invasion of North Africa by the ottoman Turks created insecurity along the caravan
routes leading to decline of the trade.
i) Anti-slave trade pressure from the British and eventual abolition of slave trade reduced
trade profits.
j) The establishment of commercial ports on the western African coast and the use of
navigable rivers by the 16th century AD rendered caravan trade unpopular as it was slow,
cumbersome and risky.
International trade
This is a type of trade that involves the exchange of goods between different countries in
one continent or beyond the continent.
Examples of international trade include
, a) The Indian Ocean trade
b) The trans-Atlantic trade.
The trans-Atlantic trade
The trans-Atlantic trade involved Europe, Africa and the Americas thus earning it the
name Triangular trade. It was also called the trans-Atlantic slave trade because it
involved crossing the Atlantic and the main commodity was slaves.The trade was fueled
by the technological innovations especially in Spain and Portugal which facilitated sea
transport.The trade happened at a time when the Europeans were keen on expanding
overseas (15th and 16th c AD) for the following reasons;
a. They were searching for the sea route to India and Far East to get the spices and other
commodities. The Turks had blocked the land route.
b. The Europeans wanted to acquire gold and other precious items that believed to be in
existence in Africa.
c. The Europeans wanted to revenge against the Muslims who had colonized the Iberian
Peninsula between 8th c and 1491 AD.
d. They were motivated by the desire to spread their civilization to the backward areas of
the world.
e. European countries such as Portugal and Spain also wanted to increase their
geographical knowledge.
Origin of the trans-Atlantic trade
The exact date when the first slave was captured and sold was 1441 AD. Young
Portuguese sailor named Ahtam Goncalvez captured a man and a woman on the Western
Sahara coast whom he presented to Prince Henry the Navigator, the Portuguese king, thus
setting off a chain of reaction in the trade. The Portuguese built a fort on the Arguin
139
FOR ALL SECONDARY SCHOOL MATERIALS CONTACT CHAMPIONS K.C.S.E REVISION ON 0725733640 139
Island on the coast of Mauritania in 1445 which was used as a base for buying slaves and
