Unit 2.4: Trans-Saharan Trade Route

What facilitated commerce across the Sahara according to Ibn Battuta?

• Ships

• Airplanes

• Caravans

• Trains

What did African traders exchange in trans-Saharan trade?

• Gold, ivory, hides, and enslaved people

• Spices, silk, and tea

• Electronics and machinery

• Oil and gas

What did the growth of empires like Mali influence in the Sahara?

• Decrease in trade

• Expansion of commerce

• Isolation of regions

• Decline in population

What was the role of Muslim merchants in the 7th and 8th centuries?

• They isolated the Sahara

• They increased the volume of trade

• They stopped all trade

• They built large cities

What is one of the main benefits of camels compared to horses in the Sahara?

• Camels can run faster than horses.

• Camels can consume a large quantity of water at one time.

• Camels require more water than horses.

• Camels are more aggressive than horses.

What is a drawback of using camels as pack animals?

• They require a high level of salt to stay healthy.

• They cannot carry heavy loads.

• They cannot survive in deserts.

• They are easily spooked.

Which animal is known for having a high level of stamina and can pull the heaviest loads?

• Camel

• Ox

• Horse

• Llama

What is a drawback of using horses as pack animals?

• They cannot tolerate high heat.

• They require grain to keep fit.

• They cannot pull heavy loads.

• They are unlikely to stray or be stolen.

Which two kingdoms were particularly enriched by the trans-Saharan trade?

• Egypt and Ethiopia

• Ghana and Mali

• Morocco and Algeria

• Libya and Tunisia

What did the trans-Saharan trade bring to the societies of West Africa?

• Poverty

• Isolation

• Considerable wealth

• Political instability