a. List any three articles of trade exported to North Africa from Western Sudan during the trans-Saharan trade.
b. Highlight any four factors that contributed to the decline of the trans-Saharan trade.
Explanation
(a)
– Gold
– Slaves
– Hides and skin
– Ostrich feathers
– Gum
– Kolanuts
– Ivory
– Beeswax
– Camwood
(b)
– The North African towns were embroiled in internal and external conflicts.
– The cities of Gao, Timbuctu/Timbuktu and Janne declined in economic importance.
– The Portuguese exploration of Africa opened a new window of trade with Europeans on the coast of West Africa.
– As the trade in gold was declining the trade in slaves was increasing rapidly on the West African Coast.
– The Europeans introduced items of trade which were cheaper and more attractive.
– The Moroccan invasion of Songhai in the 16th century.
– The power struggle in Bornu and Hausaland in the 17th and 18th Centuries.
– Iron items were used for religious purposes.