TRANS-SAHARA TRADE

Trans-Sahara trade was the exchange of goods between peoples of north Africa and west Africa across Sahara dessert. This trade stated before 8^th century,

The main items traded were gold, slaves, salt, cowries shells and weapons. These items were state necessities. Luxury items were also carried on the caravans.  Expensive cloth, paper, ivory, kola nuts, leather goods and ostrich feather all going north, and from there Europe . Moroccan leather originally came from northern Nigeria but gunned its name because it was traded to the wider world through Moroccan ports. Copper-ware, beads, and other fancy items came south. The arrival of European on the coast of west Africa undermined the Saharan trade, but did not finally finish it until well into 19^th century.

                                            ROUTES OF THE TRANS- SAHARA TRADE 

The merchants conducted the trade along well defined routes across the dissert. There were three or four main trade routes. These are:

• The western routes: Sijilmasa route was the from ceuta ,fez- sijilmasa- Taghaza- Taoden- Watala, then split to old Ghana, mali, Jenne and tumbuktu.
• The Central or Ghadame route: Air route was from tunis- Ghadames, Ghat, Air to Katsina, Kano and Housland.
• The Estern Route: Kawar route started from Tripoli to  Fezzan- Murzuk- Kawar- Bilma and ended in the lake Chad area (Empire of Bornu)
• Southern Route:  Another important route was the southern route from West Africa cities to Takkeda- Agades- Bilma to Cairo.

                                               FACTORS THAT LED RISE OF TRANS- SAHARA TRADE

The emergence of trans-Saharan Trade was due to the following factors:

• The discovery of transport facilities like camel, and human portage
• The discovery of trade routes to and from different areas.
• Imbalance of commodities production among the participants of the trade.
• Reliable climate condition of the area as one of geographical advantage of the forest zone which had fertile soil, reliable rainfall and forest endowments attracted the trade.
• Calm and stable political atmosphere of the region attracted the growth of exchange attitude among the people.
• Strong determination leaders motivated the emergence of trade across the Saharan fessert. The leaders like Mansa Mussa , Tunka, Asikia Mohammed led to the rise of trade.

                                                 THE DECLINE OF TRAN- SAHARA TRADE

The trans- Saharan trade begun declining at  the end of the 16^th century and finally came to an end un the 20^th century.

• Its decline begun after the Moroccan invasion in Soghai . this invasion led to political instability and insecurity that forced merchants to shift from the Western to Central and leter to the Eastern Route.
• In addition, power struggle in Borno and the  decline of Borno in the 17^th century and 18^th century, also led to the decline of this trade.
• There was shortage of commodities especially gold, ivory and slaves due to the internal conflicts in west Africa.
• Another factor was the rise of Atlantic slave trade that overshadowed the this trade.
• Strong desert wind. The traders could not withstand the hazard of sand storms. Many abandoned the trade as a result.
• Shortage of water.

                                                     THE IMPACTS OF TRANS-SAHARA TRADE

• It led to the formation of large kingdom and empire. Many African rulers expand their empires to gain control over the trade routes so as to obtain the wealth from the trade
• It brought wealth both to merchants and rulers. The rulers taxed the trade hence gained regular income.
• New political ideas and a new system of law,the sheria were introduced.
• The trade linked West Africa to north Africa  and the Muslim world. The knowledge of west Africa was spread to other parts of the world.