Societies and Empiresof Africa, 800–1500Previewing Main
Ideas
Beginning about 640, Islam createdtwo North African empires.
Merchants and traders spread Islam into bothWest and East Africa,
where it influenced rulers.Geography What empires developed in West
Africa during this period?
In parts of Africa, hunter-gatherersused up an area’s food
supply and then moved on. In some Saharan villages,workers built
houses of salt. The location of gold determined trade
routes.Geography What factors might have caused three empires to
arise in thesame area?
Trade networks developed in Africa because different regionshad
items that other regions wanted. African city-states and empires
thatwere able to control and tax such trade became wealthy and
powerful.Geography How were the locations of Timbuktu and Kilwa
different andhow might that have influenced trade?
ECONOMICS
INTERACTION WITH ENVIRONMENT
RELIGIOUS AND ETHICAL SYSTEMS
406
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Chapter Quiz
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408
How might trade benefit both sides?You are crossing the Sahara
with goods to trade. Your destination is Timbuktu, the great
trading center of Africa. There you will meet with other traders,
especially those from the gold-mining regions to the south. You
hope to make the journey worthwhile by trading salt and
manufactured goods for as much gold as possible. The gold traders
will want to receive as much of your salt and manufactured goods as
they can in exchange. Together you must come to an agreement on
what your trade items are worth.
To survive the trip across the Sahara, tradersstopped at oases
for water. However, it was500 miles to Timbuktu from the
nearestoasis! The journey was very hard.
EXAM I N I NG the I SS U ES
• What elements are necessary for a mutuallysuccessful
trade?
• How do scarcity and abundance affect trade?
As you discuss these questions in class, think about what you
havelearned about other trading peoples, such as the Phoenicians
andthe Europeans. As you read about trade in the various regions
ofAfrica, notice what steps rulers took to control trade
movingthrough their territory.
This cloth was shippedacross the Mediterranean Seato North
Africa. Then it beganthe long journey to Timbuktu.
Workers in the Saharaendured hardship to minethis salt. In a hot
climate, salthelps the human body toretain water. Salt was scarcein
the gold-mining region.
These beautifulcowrie shellscame all the wayfrom East
Africa.They were usedas money.
The king oftendemanded these goldnuggets as taxes.
The camel was theonly animal thatcould go withoutwater long
enoughto cross the Sahara.
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