Trans-Sahara Trade

Multiple Choice

Natural resources are:

• things from nature that are VALUABLE to humans

• Helpful information for traveling

• NOT VALUABLE

• Made by humans for trade

Multiple Choice

Who defeated Kush?

• Egypt

• Aksum

• Greece

Multiple Choice

How did Aksum become powerful?

• Trade

• Wars

Trans-Sahara Trade

​How did trade help spread ideas?

By Caitlin Irwin

Trans means Across

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Sahara is the desert in North Africa​

Open Ended

What do you think Trans-Sahara Trade means?

​Crossing the Sahara

There were other kingdoms and civilizations in Africa that traded with Egypt, Aksum, and Kush.

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Traders crossed the Sahara to trade with these civilizations.​

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What was traded?

• The main items traded were gold and salt.

• Other items that were commonly traded included ivory, cloth, slaves, metal goods, and beads.

Multiple Select

According to the map which two resources were traded along the Trans-Sahara trade routes?

• Salt

• Silk

• Porcelain

• Gold

Salt, which could be used to preserve food, also made bland food tasty. People sweat in hot climates -- salt helps the body run correctly so people stay healthy.

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​a group of travelers journeying together, often across a desert

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Camels were often called “ships of the desert” across vast deserts. Trade helped transport new ideas

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​Caravans

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Open Ended

Make an estimate: How many miles do you think it was to travel?

650-1,500 miles

Camels can travel at speeds of 8–10 miles per hour (13–16 km per hour) for up to 18 hours without resting.

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Camels are also known for being able to go long periods of time, even up to a week in the summer, without drinking water.​

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Camels

​Camels

Camels had splayed feet that enabled them to walk on the hot sands without sinking.

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Their long eyelashes prevented sand from getting in their eyes.

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Their large humps stored fat that allowed the camels to travel long distances without eating.

Subject | Subject

Open Ended

Why would camels be a good animal to use in Trans-Saharan trade?

Multiple Choice

The camel is a relative of the _______

• llama

• dog

• ox

• goat

A normal caravan had approximately 1000 camels but some were even bigger, with around 10,000 camels!​

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Large Caravans

Traveling across the desert was very dangerous. Traders could have gotten caught in sandstorms or lost in the desert.

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Dangerous Journey

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Even though the trip across the Sahara was dangerous, the traders could become very wealthy from trading the goods they gathered.

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Traders carried more than goods

They carried ideas, art, culture, and religion.

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Sometimes teacher, poets, musicians, and artists traveled with the traders.

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The teachers and poets on the caravan taught fellow travelers. The musicians sang their songs. The artists sold their work. Traders also brought their religion with them.​

Trading ideas and beliefs

As traders moved from place to place transporting and gathering goods, they carried with them different parts of their culture.

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Through trade, people from different places and of different backgrounds came into contact with each other and ideas and beliefs were shared.​

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Open Ended

How did trade spread ideas and beliefs?

Multiple Choice

The Trans Saharan Trade Routes are located on which continent?

• Africa

• Asia

• Europe

• India

Multiple Choice

What was used to travel across the Sahara?

• Wagons

• Ships

• Chariots

• Camels

Multiple Choice

Caravans were used to...

• record business transactions

• travel across the desert

• teach reading and writing

• exchange foreign money

Multiple Choice

What were the two major items traded along the Trans Saharan Trade routes?

• Pepper and Silver

• Gold and Salt

• Platinum and Oregano

• Gunpowder and Tea