Social
What types of people traveled across the Sahara Desert?
Merchants and Scholars
How did governments and empires support trade?
They protected routes, built infrastructure, and enforced laws to encourage commerce.
How did climate patterns influence trade?
Winds and seasons affected travel timing and routes.
How did trade lead to the spread of religions and ideas?
Merchants and travelers shared beliefs and knowledge as they moved.
Name 5 goods that were traded across the Sahara Desert
Grain, Oil, Pottery, Animal Hides, Camels, Horses, Iron tools, Textiles, Fine Cloth, Salt, Books, Silk, Gold, Ivory
How did cities like Timbuktu become socially important?
They became centers of learning, religion, and multicultural interaction.
How did trade strengthen large empires?
Trade funded governments and helped rulers maintain stability and authority.
How did rivers and seas support trade?
They allowed faster transportation of goods compared to land routes.
How did cultural exchange change societies?
Societies adopted new traditions, technologies, and art forms.
Why was trade important to ancient and medieval economies?
It allowed regions to obtain goods they could not produce themselves.
How did the spread of Islam affect social connections across regions?
Islam linked communities through shared beliefs, laws, and cultural practices.
Why did empires protect merchants and trade routes?
Protecting trade kept money flowing and maintained political stability.
How did geography shape trade routes?
Natural features like deserts, mountains, and seas determined where people could travel.
How did Mosques contribute to the growth of Islam and spread of knowledge?
Mosques were seen as places of worship, strengthening Islamic identity and allowing Islamic beliefs and practices to spread as communities grew. They also functioned as centers of learning where many scholars study mathematics, science, and literature.
How did valuable resources shape trade networks?
High-demand goods encouraged long-distance trade.
What was a caravanserai and why was it socially important?
A caravanserai was a roadside inn that provided shelter, food, and water for traders and animals. It allowed merchants to rest, exchange news, and interact with others.
How did control of trade routes increase political power?
States that controlled trade gained wealth, influence, and military strength.
How did monsoon winds affect Indian Ocean trade?
Sailors depended on seasonal winds to plan departures and arrivals, making voyages faster and safer.
How did Swahili culture develop in East Africa?
Swahili culture developed through interaction between African, Arab, and Persian traders, blending languages, customs, and traditions.
How did trade create wealth for states and cities?
Taxes and control of commerce increased economic power.
How did trade routes like the Silk Road and the Trans-Saharan networks create social interactions?
Trade routes brought together merchants, travelers, scholars, and missionaries, allowing people from different regions to meet, share ideas, and form relationships.
How did Empires like the Byzantine (Roman) and Han Dynasty benefit politically from trade?
Trade increased wealth and strengthened the government.
How did humans adapt to challenging environments(ie sandstorms or monsoons) to trade?
They developed technologies like camels, ships, and navigation tools.
How did Timbuktu become a cultural center?
It attracted scholars and muslim merchants, via mosques, libraries, and universities, becoming a hub of Islamic learning.
Why was gold important in West African trade?
Gold was highly valuable and used as currency, increasing wealth for empires like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.