The Growth of a Continent

 Many trade routes crossed Africa in order to connect villages with the supply of various goods  Two Major Trade Networks  Trans-Saharan Trade  Indian Ocean Trade

 Crossed the Sahara Desert  Connected North Africa, Europe, and West Africa  Controlled by Ghana, Mali, and Songhai  Caravans as large as 10,000 crossed the desert

 Goods  From South: Gold, Ivory, Slaves, Spices  From North: Salt, Cloth, Metal Ware  Significance  Aided the rise of African Empires and Kingdoms in West Africa  Spread Islam through West Africa

 War broke out in West Africa  Caused trade routes to shift eastward  Swahili city-states emerged in response to economic opportunities  Other empires faded when the trade routes shifted

 Culture was effected by trade too  Islam & Christianity were brought in  Mediterranean cultures effected the area due to Trans-Saharan trade

 Used Trans-Saharan routes  Niger River used as water and rest stop  Mali/Ghana/Songhai benefitted greatly  Gold was needed in the north so that people could use it as money  Salt was needed in the west so that people could add flavor to their food, or preserve it

 Many countries traded with Africa through the Indian Ocean Trade Network  Not all routes were water based

 Goods  From Africa: Ivory, Slaves, Gold, Iron  From China: Porcelain  From Burma: Pottery  From India: Cloth

 Routes  Major route between East Africa & Asia  Made possible by action of monsoons  Dec-Feb: Wind blew north-northeast  Apr-Sept: Wind blew south-southwest  Traded with China through intermediary merchants until direct trade began (1400s)

 Significance  Brought prosperity to East Africa  Set stage for rise of trading cities (Sofala & Kilwa)  Caused creation of Swahili – Mix of Arabic and Bantu languages  Brought Islam to coastal Bantu speakers