How was Gold Traded Across the Sahara Desert?

Perspective · Mar 1, 2015

I'm researching this on Encyclopedia Britannica but am not getting a satisfying response.

I hope somebody here can help me.

unity · Mar 1, 2015

Wrong sub-forum.

unity · Mar 1, 2015

Camels were introduced to the Sahara by the time of the Medieval trade routes crossing the Sahara.

tornada · Mar 1, 2015

Which part exactly? Where was the gold obtained, and where was it transported. There were a multitude of ways to transport heavy stuff across the desert. You could send them to the coast, load them on ships. Or you could simply set up water dumps on your overland route. Basically calculate how much you'd travel each day, and then set up water stops at each checkpoint. Complicated, but not undo-able.

Perspective · Mar 1, 2015

tornada said:
Which part exactly? Where was the gold obtained, and where was it transported. There were a multitude of ways to transport heavy stuff across the desert. You could send them to the coast, load them on ships. Or you could simply set up water dumps on your overland route. Basically calculate how much you'd travel each day, and then set up water stops at each checkpoint. Complicated, but not undo-able.

The method of transporation

tornada · Mar 1, 2015

Perspective said:
The method of transporation

I get that. But where from? Over what stretch of the Sahara? What exactly are the two points you have in mind? There are different ways to transport stuff, but you need to provide a little reference. The Sahara is a bit of a big desert. A little reference to which time period is being referred to would also be useful

Perspective · Mar 1, 2015

tornada said:
I get that. But where from? Over what stretch of the Sahara? What exactly are the two points you have in mind? There are different ways to transport stuff, but you need to provide a little reference. The Sahara is a bit of a big desert. A little reference to which time period is being referred to would also be useful

Afroeurasian trade before Columbus approx.

tornada · Mar 1, 2015

Perspective said:
Afroeurasian trade before Columbus approx.

Well mostly as I described it then.

Tercios Espanoles · Mar 1, 2015

tornada said:
I get that. But where from? Over what stretch of the Sahara? What exactly are the two points you have in mind? There are different ways to transport stuff, but you need to provide a little reference. The Sahara is a bit of a big desert. A little reference to which time period is being referred to would also be useful

Don't waste your time, Tornada. It's like pulling teeth with this guy. We're supposed to magically know what he's referring to without even the most basic information.

How was gold shipped across the Sahara? It wasn't. There's this marvellous highway - the Mediterranean Sea - which runs the whole length of the Sahara and can be crossed in a fraction of the time at a fraction of the trouble and expense.

Happy?

unity · Mar 1, 2015

Perspective said:
The method of transporation

07._Camel_Profile,_near_Silverton,_NSW,_07.07.2007.jpg

Bart Dale · Mar 3, 2015

Tercios Espanoles said:
Don't waste your time, Tornada. It's like pulling teeth with this guy. We're supposed to magically know what he's referring to without even the most basic information.

How was gold shipped across the Sahara? It wasn't. There's this marvellous highway - the Mediterranean Sea - which runs the whole length of the Sahara and can be crossed in a fraction of the time at a fraction of the trouble and expense.

Happy?

A lot of gold came from south of the Sahara, so your sarcasm is uncalled for and unjustified. How was the gold from south of thd Sahara shipped to the the Mediterranean Sea? Was it shipped by boat along the western coast of Africa, or was it shipped by camel across the Saharan, and if so, were there favor routes?

And was the gold from south of the Saharan first collected in in one location, then shipped north in large giant caravans, or were multiple small scale caravans from various locations.

Just because you are ignorant of the answers doesn't mean that it isn't a question worth asking. Even if you don't you don't find the question interesting, doesn't mean that others won't.

:

tornada · Mar 3, 2015

Bart Dale said:
A lot of gold came from south of the Sahara, so your sarcasm is uncalled for and unjustified. How was the gold from south of thd Sahara shipped to the the Mediterranean Sea? Was it shipped by boat along the western coast of Africa, or was it shipped by camel across the Saharan, and if so, were there favor routes?

And was the gold from south of the Saharan first collected in in one location, then shipped north in large giant caravans, or were multiple small scale caravans from various locations.

Just because you are ignorant of the answers doesn't mean that it isn't a question worth asking. Even if you don't you don't find the question interesting, doesn't mean that others won't.

:

South of the Sahara where? I know there was plenty of civilization along the Nile, with traffic on and along the river. What major settlements and mines were far out in the desert? If I had a little more on what region we're discussing, I might have a clearer idea about what's going on here. So far as I know, the deep desert regions weren't really inhabited. Much of the habitation was along the coast. I'm not sure what sort of mining went on in the sub-Saharan regions in the ancient world. We know that there was ancient Trans-Saharan trade
Trans-Saharan trade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Primarily along Oasis routes. I suspect groups traveled in Caravans. I don't know the specific logistics of how gold was transported, though it was likely in heavily guarded caravans. Not very heavy I suspect, since extremely large groups carry the risk of finding en-route oases inadequate and so running into water shortages.

But without a little more detail as to location and axes of transport, I really can't say more.

tornada · Mar 3, 2015

unity said:

It seems that trade in the region actually predates the usage of the camel. They probably used horses, oxen and mule. As I understand, modern scholarship holds that the camel was only introduced to Egypt in and around 520 BCE, when the Persians invaded. Not something I knew of until recently infact, but it would seem trade is older than that, especially across the desert, between Carthage and the Eastern regions of the Med. Its important to remember that sea trade is highly limited by the prevailing wind patterns of the region, which are usually seasonal in nature and direction. Especially when dealing with heavy trade materials like metals

Bart Dale · Mar 3, 2015

tornada said:
It seems that trade in the region actually predates the usage of the camel. They probably used horses, oxen and mule. As I understand, modern scholarship holds that the camel was only introduced to Egypt in and around 520 BCE, when the Persians invaded. Not something I knew of until recently infact, but it would seem trade is older than that, especially across the desert, between Carthage and the Eastern regions of the Med. Its important to remember that sea trade is highly limited by the prevailing wind patterns of the region, which are usually seasonal in nature and direction. Especially when dealing with heavy trade materials like metals

A knowledge of history of the medieval Africa and early modern gold trade would show that West Africa was a major source of gold flowing north from south of the Sahara. The ancient (actually medieval) kingdom of Ghana in what is now southwest Mali was the first of the great West African sources of medieval gold, I believe the the valley of the Senegal. Later the gold came mord from the upper reaches of the Niger river. In the earlier middle ages trade followed a western route through Morroco, later a path more directly north to Tunis around 15th century

There was a reason a reason the West coast of Africa was called the Gold Coast. It was the primary source of African gold to the Mediterranean in during the middle ages and early modern era

Shaheen · Mar 3, 2015

Camel trains (Caravans) were the main mode of transport but today apparently lorry's are replacing them. Where rivers existed boats were used as well.

BBC NEWS | Programmes | From Our Own Correspondent | Dying trade of the Sahara camel train

tornada · Mar 3, 2015

Bart Dale said:
A knowledge of history of the medieval Africa and early modern gold trade would show that West Africa was a major source of gold flowing north from south of the Sahara. The ancient (actually medieval) kingdom of Ghana in what is now southwest Mali was the first of the great West African sources of medieval gold, I believe the the valley of the Senegal. Later the gold came mord from the upper reaches of the Niger river. In the earlier middle ages trade followed a western route through Morroco, later a path more directly north to Tunis around 15th century

There was a reason a reason the West coast of Africa was called the Gold Coast. It was the primary source of African gold to the Mediterranean in during the middle ages and early modern era

That region, Ghana for instance, is Sub Saharan right? The trade would have been below the desert to the more populous regions, or across the length to the Carthaginian regions. I suppose sea trade is also viable, along the coast and then through the Pillars of Hercules.

Tercios Espanoles · Mar 4, 2015

Bart Dale said:
A lot of gold came from south of the Sahara, so your sarcasm is uncalled for and unjustified....Just because you are ignorant of the answers doesn't mean that it isn't a question worth asking. Even if you don't you don't find the question interesting, doesn't mean that others won't.

My apologies. I was aggravated by the OP in another thread by his inability to state what it is he is actually talking about. The question is so utterly vague, it becomes impossible to give a genuine answer. It is like asking: How did people get from the east coast to the west coast of North America? The answer, of course, could be 747s, wagon trains or heaven knows what. Not enough information to formulate any kind of meaningful response.

But for losing my temper, I beg forgiveness.

Bart Dale · Mar 5, 2015

Tercios Espanoles said:
My apologies. I was aggravated by the OP in another thread by his inability to state what it is he is actually talking about. The question is so utterly vague, it becomes impossible to give a genuine answer. It is like asking: How did people get from the east coast to the west coast of North America? The answer, of course, could be 747s, wagon trains or heaven knows what. Not enough information to formulate any kind of meaningful response.

But for losing my temper, I beg forgiveness.

The fault is not the the vagueness of the question, but your obvious ignorance of the subject. If I asked how did the people get from the east to the west coast, anyone who knew American history would know that I was imply how did the pioneers to the West coast, and Giving a sarcastic answer saying they walked is an insulting reply. I know that they traveled to the West in wagon trains, along certain routes like the Santa Fe. Since this is a history forum, that question would rule out the use of 747, and modern transportation.

If you don't know anything about the subject, and you clearly don't, you shouldn't bother to reply. I clearly understood what the poster was getting at, because unlike you I knew a tiny bit about the topic. The rules of the forum clearly bans sarcasm, so I suggest you re-read those rules.

freeThinker · Mar 5, 2015

people in this forum like to pretend questions are ambiguous. Just infer and give the correct answer or better give all those answers you deem possible from the "ambiguous" question.

Tercios Espanoles · Mar 5, 2015

Bart Dale said:
The fault is not the the vagueness of the question, but your obvious ignorance of the subject. If I asked how did the people get from the east to the west coast, anyone who knew American history would know that I was imply how did the pioneers to the West coast, and Giving a sarcastic answer saying they walked is an insulting reply. I know that they traveled to the West in wagon trains, along certain routes like the Santa Fe. Since this is a history forum, that question would rule out the use of 747, and modern transportation.

If you don't know anything about the subject, and you clearly don't, you shouldn't bother to reply. I clearly understood what the poster was getting at, because unlike you I knew a tiny bit about the topic. The rules of the forum clearly bans sarcasm, so I suggest you re-read those rules.

It is a sad, pathetic, self-righteous soul that spits upon an apology. Thank you for your input.

As for my lack of knowledge on the subject, I have a good foundation in the various trade networks spanning the Mediterranean, Phoenician, Roman, Carthaginian, Venetian, Genoese, Spanish, Barbary, Ottoman... But of course, those networks changed over the centuries, and without knowing when or what the OP is referring to, such as who, when and for what this gold was traded - we are not all blessed with your penetrating insight, after all - it is impossible to be more specific.

I stand by my answer, sarcasm and all.

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How was Gold Traded Across the Sahara Desert?

Perspective

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Perspective

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Perspective

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Tercios Espanoles

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