# data[].attributes.headline
The goods that were traded along this route was from North Africa to West Africa traveled salt, textiles expecially silk and fine cotton, horses that were valuable for military pourpuses, and Copper and brass items Glass beads and ceramics Books and writing materials.  

# data[].attributes.subject
The goods that were traded along this route was from North Africa to West Africa traveled salt, textiles expecially silk and fine cotton, horses that were valuable for military pourpuses, and Copper and brass items Glass beads and ceramics Books and writing materials.  

# data[].attributes.headline
From West Africa to North Africa moved gold africa produced two thirds of the gold in the world, enslaved people, Copper and brass items Glass beads and ceramics Books and writing materials, and exotic animals' products like ostrich feathers.  

# data[].attributes.subject
From West Africa to North Africa moved gold africa produced two thirds of the gold in the world, enslaved people, Copper and brass items Glass beads and ceramics Books and writing materials, and exotic animals' products like ostrich feathers.  

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
This picture shows the trans-Saharan trade route map. This map also shows the trade routes and which routes goods were being traded on.  

# data[].attributes.headline
The Ideas that were traded along the Trans-Saharan trade route were religions, culture and different forms of art. The major religion that was present along this ancient trade route was Islam. Islam was spread in west Africa, and came with Arabic knowledge, education and language. The trans Saharan trade routes helped shape cultural practices in west Africa by spreading Islam in this region.  

# data[].attributes.subject
The Ideas that were traded along the Trans-Saharan trade route were religions, culture and different forms of art. The major religion that was present along this ancient trade route was Islam. Islam was spread in west Africa, and came with Arabic knowledge, education and language. The trans Saharan trade routes helped shape cultural practices in west Africa by spreading Islam in this region.  

# data[].attributes.headline
The main victims that were harmed by this trade were the enslaved people from various African regions. The enslaved Africans were captured through raids and warfare and forced into servitude, primary destined for North Africa, causing immense suffering, loss of life, and separation of families.  

# data[].attributes.subject
The main victims that were harmed by this trade were the enslaved people from various African regions. The enslaved Africans were captured through raids and warfare and forced into servitude, primary destined for North Africa, causing immense suffering, loss of life, and separation of families.  

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The trans-Saharan trade route transformed West Africa by connecting it to the larger parts of the world. This trade route in particular was intriguing as it required the need for human adaptation and innovation over this vast desert area.

This trade route is often overlooked but it's actually super cool! It has all the components of a good trade network: the formation of diasporic communities, new technology, the spread of religion (Islamic traditions) and even a super rich king by the name of Mansa Musa.

As always, technology helped spur this trade networks. The two big ones here are camel saddles and caravans. Camel saddles helped traders (mostly Berber nomads) ride the camels (the only pack animals equipped to survive in the desert without water for long periods of time) without injury, so it was easy to carry goods faster. Caravans were groups of traders traveling together, which often protected them from desert raiders.

These technologies made this route far safer and easier to travel, and thus trans-Saharan trade flourished, carrying salt, gold, slaves, and cowrie shells, the last of which were used as currency.

The biggest religion that spread across this trade route was Islam. Over time, if African states weren't already taken over by the Islamic caliphate, they may have converted voluntarily, with much help from the Arab Berber traders, many of whom were already converted to Islam.

Additionally, empires with valued goods expanded rapidly during this flourishing of the trade route, such as the Mali, Ghana, and Songhai empires.

Mali in West Africa in particular became one of the richest empires in the region due to its large supply in gold-- so rich, in fact, that when their king Mansa Musa made his pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca every place he stopped along the way became so flooded with gold that their economies inflated drastically. That's how rich this guy was-- he could literally give out so much gold that it could crash an entire city's economy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
AP World Notes Unit 2: Trans-Saharan Trade (1200-1450) | Fiveable

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The trans-Saharan trade route transformed West Africa by connecting it to the larger parts of the world. This trade route in particular was intriguing as it required the need for human adaptation and innovation over this vast desert area. This trade route is often overlooked but it's actually super cool!

# 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.attachment_link.description
OER Project is a family of free, online social studies curricula. Aligned to state standards and easily adaptable.

# data[].attributes.headline
The trans-Saharan trade route brought many ideas and resources, this means that it has benefitted various empires. One of the many empires that were benefited by this ancient route was west africa. West africa was benefitted by this ancient trade route because Islam spread throughout this empire giving West Africa their cultural practices.  

# data[].attributes.subject
The trans-Saharan trade route brought many ideas and resources, this means that it has benefitted various empires. One of the many empires that were benefited by this ancient route was west africa. West africa was benefitted by this ancient trade route because Islam spread throughout this empire giving West Africa their cultural practices.  

# data[].attributes.headline
The trans-Saharan trade route brought many ideas and resources; this means that it has benefited various empires. One of the many empires that benefited from this ancient route was West Africa. West Africa benefited by this ancient trade route because Islam spread throughout this empire giving West Africa their cultural practices and religion. 

# data[].attributes.subject
The trans-Saharan trade route brought many ideas and resources; this means that it has benefited various empires. One of the many empires that benefited from this ancient route was West Africa. West Africa benefited by this ancient trade route because Islam spread throughout this empire giving West Africa their cultural practices and religion. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Another empire that benefited by the trans-Saharan trade route was the Mali empire; The Mali empire is the center of Islamic worship and culture. The Mali empire was benefited from the trans-Saharan trade because the empire controlled the route. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Another empire that benefited by the trans-Saharan trade route was the Mali empire; The Mali empire is the center of Islamic worship and culture. The Mali empire was benefited from the trans-Saharan trade because the empire controlled the route. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Another way the empire benefited from this ancient trade route is that the wealth of the Mali empire was derived from trade. The Mali taxed the merchants that were using this route, due to this the Mali empire was able to gain more wealth. The trans-Saharan trade route helped in the development of monetary systems along with state building.

# data[].attributes.subject
Another way the empire benefited from this ancient trade route is that the wealth of the Mali empire was derived from trade. The Mali taxed the merchants that were using this route, due to this the Mali empire was able to gain more wealth. The trans-Saharan trade route helped in the development of monetary systems along with state building.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
This photo depicts people using camels and traveling the trans-Saharan route. 

# data[].attributes.body
The empire that influenced and had an impact on the trans-Saharan trade route was the Mali empire, which was a land based empire. The Mali empire influenced this ancient trade route by taxing the merchants that traveled using the trans-Saharan trade route. This had an impact on the trade route because it allowed for the routes to be more safer for merchants.