History glossary
Trans-Saharan trade
Long-distance trade across the Sahara linking West Africa with North Africa and the wider Islamic world..
- Category
- economy
What it means
Trans-Saharan trade connected West African goldfields, savanna markets and Niger towns with North African cities and Mediterranean demand. It moved goods such as gold, salt, cloth, copper and books, while also carrying people, ideas and religious learning.
Related terms
Stories using this term
The Mali Empire
From Sundiata's victory at Kirina to Mansa Musa's pilgrimage and Timbuktu's rise, Mali turned gold, trade and political alliance into one of medieval Africa's great empires.
The Rise of Islam
From Muhammad's first revelations to the early caliphates, Islam grew from a Meccan message into a civilisation spanning Africa, Asia and Europe.
The Age of Exploration
An era of exploration and empire linking continents through trade, conquest, and cultural exchange.
