The Gold Salt Trade in West Africa

The Gold Salt Trade SALT GOLD The Gold Salt Trade also known as the Trans-Saharan Trade because merchants crossed the Sahara Desert Salt was produced in the North (Sahara region) Gold was mined in West Africa SALT West African Kingdoms GOLD

Why was gold and salt so valued? Gold was not found in North Africa North Africans valued gold as a currency Salt was scarce in West Africa West Africans valued salt because: It was used to preserve and flavor food In the hot climate people sweat a lot, so it was important to replace fluids (salt helps to regulate the body and hydration of the body)

“The Middlemen” The West Africa Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, Songhai were in the middle of the Gold-Salt Trade These kingdoms gained wealth by taxing the trade that went on in their territory

The Gold Salt Trade SALT West African Kingdoms GOLD

SILENT Trade The Ghana King established a system of silent barter. WHY? To prevent arguments over price Traders of Ghana often couldn’t speak the language of merchants from other areas of Africa HOW did the trade work? Gold would be left at a special place for the traders to take. If ample goods (salt, etc.) were not left in exchange, all trade stopped. Silent barter worked well. Traders were afraid to leave too little. They knew Ghana would stop trading. If anything, they left more than they normally would, to keep relations good and trade flowing.

Trading OBJECTIVE: You will be involved in a small scale version of the gold-salt trade The goal is to get the good that you do not have (either gold or salt) TASK: Work with the person sitting next to you Give one person all of the salt cards (representing N. Africa) and the other person gets all of the gold cards (representing W. Africa)

The person with the salt cards will start by putting a certain number of salt cards on the table The person with the gold cards will respond by putting gold cards on the table If each side agrees to the amount offered, your trade has been successful. If not, you need to renegotiate REMEMBER…this is a silent trade so NO Talking!