Challenges of Trade in Africa

Make a prediction . . .

• Was trade in Africa easy or difficult?– Think of at least two reasons to support your

answer.– If you are not sure, take a guess!!!

Let’s take a journey. You are . . .

• Who would you like to be?– Explorer– Priest– Soldier

You are a lump of gold!!!

Where do you come from?

Gold

Traders cannot use horses to transport you, because the teste fly carries a disease

that kills too many horses. It is too expensive to replace them, so you are

carried by human porters and river boats instead.

Your first journey is to the trade city of Timbuktu

In Timbktu, you are traded to Berber traders. . .for SALT!

Before leaving Timbuktu, you see one of the Muslim Berbers explaining his religion, Islam, to a Merchant. The merchant seems

very interested.

The Berbers carry you across the Sahara

The Berbers have to use camels, the only pack animal that can cross the Sahara

Fun Fact!! Before 300 A.D. camels were not domesticated and there was little or no trade across the Sahara!“I feel so domesticated . . .”

Along the way, you pass a salt CARAVAN passing south to Timbuktu…

You reach your final destination in Africa, a city on the coast of the Mediterranean.

You are traded for silk, spices, weapons, and other goods.

From there, you will travel all over the world, changing hands many times.