# data[].attributes.body
Goods such as gold, salt, cloth and enslaved people were traded along the Trans-Saharan trade route although some objects such as ostrich feather and European guns were traded along the route as well. Gold and Salt were important item traded along the Trans-Saharan trade route because of its high value across the whole world and Salt’s ability to be able to preserve food for long periods of time making it vital so that people can be able to have fresh food. As well as enslaved people were captured in Sub-Saharan Africa then brought to the north where they were sold to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern civilizations, which allowed African rulers to get loads of money making them wealthier.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Epic History of Trans-Saharan Trade  Routes! #facts #epichistory #history | RANGMANCH

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The trade route began in the West African gold mines that were controlled by a series of empires over the span of 1,000 years, including the Kingdom of Ghana, the Mali Empire, and the Songhai Empire.

The routes then extended north through salt mining towns like Taghaza before reaching the Mediterranean coastal cities of North Africa, such as Tunis and Tripoli. From there, goods were traded into Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

In addition to gold and salt, a wide range of goods were transported along these trade routes. This includes ivory, spices, textiles, weapons, and enslaved people.

Gold was mined in West Africa and was highly valued across the world. Salt was a vital commodity that was used for preserving food.

Enslaved people were often captured in Sub-Saharan Africa and brought north and sold to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern civilizations. African rulers unable to resist the slave trade acted as middlemen, rounding up members of nearby villages to be sold to demanding merchants.

The Trans-Saharan Trade Route was instrumental in the development of the civilizations that participated in it. The trade route facilitated the exchange of ideas and cultures between the people of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

This led to the development of new technologies, art, and architecture. The trade route also facilitated the spread of Islam in West Africa, which had a significant impact on the region's religious and cultural practices.

The Kingdom of Ghana controlled the West African gold mines in the 6th century and became a major center of trade, exporting gold and ivory to North Africa and Europe in exchange for salt, textiles, and other goods.

The Mali Empire emerged in the 13th century and became one of the most prosperous civilizations along the route. One of its rulers, Mansa Musa, is considered the richest man in history due to his control of both the gold and salt mines in West Africa.

The Songhai Empire rose after the fall of the Mali Empire in the 15th century and expanded the trade routes even further.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A definition and map of the Trans Saharan Trade Routes in World History, also known as the Gold Salt Trade, including the goods traded along the network.

# data[].attributes.body
Ideas that were traded along the Trans-Saharan trade Route where the spread of Islam, and with Islam came Arabic knowledge, art, education and language. Even the theory of bacteria was spread there, which now helps us in daily life and in the medical field. To the north of the Sahara, powerful Islamic empires and Muslim merchants united smaller communities of Afro-Eurasia from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean in a single trading system. When West Africans converted to Islam, this system expanded to the trans-Saharan trade. Which expanded Islam and made it more popular. As well as they encouraged the development of monetary systems and state-building.

# data[].attributes.body
Local rulers benefitted from the Trans-Saharan trade by gaining large swaths of land and keeping their commodities under control. In addition, Europeans benefited by receiving valuable African goods and making their perilous desert routes less attractive when wealth moved from inland to coastal areas.

# data[].attributes.body
In the 16th century, the Europeans began to see the value in African goods. The Africans were enslaved, harmed and caused death. Which caused the trade route to be overshadowed by the European-controlled transatlantic trade, and the wealth moved from inland to coastal areas. Making the desert routes less attractive and interesting. Which harmed the trade route.

# data[].attributes.body
The Portuguese empire is a maritime empire, and the Mali empire is a land-based empire. The Portuguese empire oversaw ships and the transportation of goods which helped get goods from all over and the Mali empire oversaw gold and salt mines which helped produce the goods the Trans-Saharan trade traded.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Impact of Trans-Saharan Trade Routes #facts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How did North Africa Communicate with the rest of Africa? - Ancient and Medieval Africa