Africas Gold & Salt Trade Lesson 3

Main Ideas: Africa is rich in resources, but geographically isolatedAfrica is rich in resources, but geographically isolated Trade between the regions of Africa led to changes in the nature of commerceTrade between the regions of Africa led to changes in the nature of commerce Trade in slave labor has been a common practice in African societyTrade in slave labor has been a common practice in African society

Regionalization in Africa Broken up by deserts and rain forestsBroken up by deserts and rain forests Lack of all necessary resources in any particular region >>> trade!Lack of all necessary resources in any particular region >>> trade!

Gold as Currency Precious metalsPrecious metals Rarity coupled with universalityRarity coupled with universality Metallurgy & DivisibilityMetallurgy & Divisibility – ease of handling as coin

The Gold & Salt Trade N. AfricaN. Africa – desert – has salt, needs gold W. AfricaW. Africa – tropical – has gold, needs salt The camel: trans- Saharan trade possibleThe camel: trans- Saharan trade possible

Trade Practices Silent barter (to avoid enslavement)Silent barter (to avoid enslavement) Impact of IslamImpact of Islam Brokers: handle process of exchangemake profit without contributing to productionBrokers: handle process of exchangemake profit without contributing to production

East African City-States Trade with Islamic worldTrade with Islamic world Brokers import raw materials from interior, sell to Arabs for finished goodsBrokers import raw materials from interior, sell to Arabs for finished goods Swahili Coast enjoys tremendous profitsSwahili Coast enjoys tremendous profits

The Arab Slave Trade Zanj: Arab term for E. AFR used to describe slaves sold to ArabsZanj: Arab term for E. AFR used to describe slaves sold to Arabs Slavery in Islamic WorldSlavery in Islamic World Time & scale of Arab slave tradeTime & scale of Arab slave trade Cultural DiffusionCultural Diffusion