Why was gold and salt so valuable to West Africa?
The people who lived in the desert of North Africa could easily mine salt, but not gold. They craved the precious metal that would add so much to their personal splendor and prestige. These mutual needs led to the establishment of long-distance trade routes that connected very different cultures.
Was salt or gold more valuable in West Africa?
Plenty of commodities changed hands, but the most important were salt and gold. Conveniently, the people from Bambuk region, west of the Ghana empire, as well as the people from the Wangara region, south of the Ghana empire, had lots of gold. But wouldn’t you know it, they were a little short on salt.
Why were salt and gold such valuable resources?
Both salt and gold were used to trade for other commodities. Salt was needed to preserve meat and other food. Why were salt and gold such valuable resources? The arrival of Muslim traders in North Africa greatly increased the trade slave.
What was the importance of the gold and salt trade?
What was a major effect of the gold-salt trade in Africa? The gold-salt trade in Africa made Ghana a powerful empire because they controlled the trade routes and taxed traders. Control of gold-salt trade routes helped Ghana, Mali, and Songhai to become large and powerful West African kingdoms.
What was a major effect of the gold salt trade in Africa?
The gold-salt trade in Africa made Ghana a powerful empire because they controlled the trade routes and taxed traders. Control of gold-salt trade routes helped Ghana, Mali, and Songhai to become large and powerful West African kingdoms.
What was a major effect of the gold-salt trade in Africa?
Where was gold found in West Africa?
Gold in West Africa In West Africa, an ancient people called the Akan populated the location that we now call Ghana around the 11th-century CE. Among the many tribes of this ancient civilization, could be found, the ethnic groups of the Ashanti and the Fanti, who mined for gold along the rivers Volta and Ankobra.
How did the gold and salt trade develop?
The trade began due to a surplus of each product per area. Gold was plentiful in West Africa so traders sent the item to North Africa so they too could have the valuable mineral. In return, North Africans gave salt to West Africa. Salt is vital to prevent dehydration and was scarce in West Africa.
Is the African gold-salt trade still used today?
Even today, the salt trade continues, although the deposits are running out and the salt merchants can no longer command gold dust in exchange. Saharan salt from Taoudenni is still transported by Tuareg camel caravans, the still-90-kilo slabs now ultimately destined for the refineries of Bamako in Mali.
What was a major effect of the gold-salt trade in Africa quizlet?
Why was salt so valuable in ancient times?
Salt’s ability to preserve food was a founding contributor to the development of civilization. It helped eliminate dependence on seasonal availability of food, and made it possible to transport food over large distances.