What is trade?

 Trade is the buying and selling of goods and services between people and countries.
 It was occasioned by human’s desire to satisfy the needs

Who is a Trader?

 A trader is an individual who engages in the buying and selling

Methods of Trade

⇰ Barter trade – exchange of goods for goods

⇰ Currency trade- use of money as a medium of exchange.

Types of trade

▪ Classification of trade depends on:

✓ scale
✓ distance
✓ volume of goods and services
▪ There are three types of trade, namely:
 Local {involve people in the same geographical area, e.g.
between villages}
 Regional {involve people in a larger geographical area
with a larger variety of goods than local trade, e.g. long-
distance and the Trans-Saharan trade (West and North
African communities, across the Sahara)}
 International {involve countries and continents, e.g. Trans-
Atlantic trade}

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Fill in the chats below:

Types of Trade
Methods of trade

 Trans Saharan Trade was conducted between North Africa and West Africa. It derived its
name from crossing of the Saharan desert by traders.
 It’s not clear when this trade started, merchants were travelling on horse drawn chariots
between north and West Africa, due to increased aridity, the volume of trade decreased,
but with the introduction of the camel from Asia the trade was revived. The Arabs
originally settled in parts of North Africa and from there they started moving south, first
as traders and later as settlers.

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What factors contributed to the development of the trans-
Saharan trade?

 Existence of local trade in the region provided a base for the trade.
 Demand for West African goods such as gold, slaves and Kolanuts in the North.
 Existence of rich merchants in the region who were willing to invest in the trade.
 Existence of trade routes made it easy for them to travel
 The camel made their journey through the desert easy –they were able to carry heavy loads
and travel long distances without water. They could also travel on sand with ease.
 Existence of strong leaders/political stability in western Sudan which encouraged trade
(Kingdoms such as Mali, Ghona and Shongai).
 Existence of oasis which provided water and acted as a resting point for the traders
 The tuaregs who served as guides to the caravans as they were conversant with the desert
routes

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Kola-nuts Rich merchants and their slaves

Gold Camels in the desert.

Oasis Tuareg

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TRADE ROUTES
There were two types of trade routes used namely:

1. the main or primary routes and the

2. secondary routes.

• The western route. It began at fez in morocco and went through Sijilmasa, then
Taghaza, Timbukutu, Audaghast and ended in the Niger belt.

• The central route. This route began in Tunis through Ghat, Agades, Kano and ended
within the Hausa state.

• The eastern route. This route started from Tripoli then went through Murzuk ,Bilma and
finally ended at Njimi in Karnem Bornu.

All the routes were originating from the North:

 Sijilmasa Taghaza Audaghost

 Tunis Ghadames Ghat – Agade – Gao Hausaland Yorubaland.
 Sijilmasa Timbuktu Gao
 Tripoli Fezzan Bilma.
 Tripoli Murzuk Bilma Njiuri in Kanem Bornu.
 Cairo Murzuk Bilma Lake Chad region.

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 The journey was long and tiring, sometimes the caravan traders ran out of
supplies for themselves and animals
The caravans encountered insecurity in the desert like robbers and terrorism
which were hostile
The routes in the desert changed frequently, the caravans would occasionally
get lost
The desert climate was harsh with very high temperatures during the day and
very low at night
There was a language barrier between the traders and the desert communities
Blinding sand storms hampered the progress of the caravan
The caravans were always at danger of attack by various desert creatures such
as scorpions and snakes
The takshifs would turn against the employers and attack them or rob them
There was rivalry among traders over the monopoly and control of trade and
trade routes

 The gold and salt fields got exhausted reducing supply

 Fall of empires like Songhai caused political instability and insecurity in the region
 External invasion by Morocco cost destruction of some commercial centres like Gao and
Timbukutu
 The rise and growth of trans-Atlantic trade rendered trans-Saharan trade unpopular
 European trading activities along West African coast undermined the trade
 Abolition of slave trade from the 1840s denied the traders a main trade’ item’
 The tuaregs changed their roles as guides and became robbers of the caravans
 The desert condition like sand storms and desert insects.

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 ⇰ The trade provided an important link between western Sudan and North Africa
⇰ It stimulated the growth of small settlement which later grew into big ancient towns
⇰ It created a new social class in western Sudan
⇰ The trade brought about islamisation of the people in West Africa
⇰ New types of goods were introduced to the people of West Africa
⇰ They built schools and university were Arabic literature and philosophy were taught

Complete the blank spaces using the most suitable words or statement
provided below
Camel Trade routes Gold Exchanged
Sahara Slaves Gold, slaves, and kola nuts

Arab traders brought Islam along the trade routes.

The Trans-Saharan trade network was a set of across the

Desert where people goods, especially

and . The Africans traveled in caravans to North Africa and

Arabia to trade goods such as .

Islam spread because

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1. What is the exchange of goods and services between people and countries called?
A. Sharing
B. Bartering
C. Trade
D. Gifting

2. What Who is a Trader?

A. Someone who makes crafts

B. Someone who buys and sells goods
C. Someone who travels for fun
D. Someone who doesn't engage in any business

3. True or False: Local trade involves people in a small geographical area.

A. True
B. False
4. Match the following terms with their definitions: (2 mrks)
A. Barter Trade
B. Currency Trade
i. Using money to buy and sell goods
ii. Exchanging goods directly for other goods
5. List two methods of trade. (2 mrks)
i. _______________________
ii. _______________________

6. Briefly describe the difference between local and regional trade. (4 mrks)
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7. Match the following goods with their origin (North Africa or West Africa): (5 mrks)
i. Gold: _________________________
ii. Salt : _________________________
iii. Kola Nuts : ____________________
iv. Horses : _______________________
v. Textiles : ______________________

8. Which of the following factors contributed MOST to the development of the Trans-
Saharan trade?
A. Lack of goods in North Africa
B. Introduction of camels for travel
C. Short travel distances
D. Cold desert climate
9. Why were camels important for Trans-Saharan trade?
A. They were fast runners.
B. They could carry heavy loads and travel long distances without water.
C. They were scared of desert creatures.
D. They preferred cold weather.
10. What challenges did Trans-Saharan trade encounter? (Choose two) (2 mrks)
A. Competition from online stores
B. Robberies by desert people
C. Easy access to supplies
D. Getting lost in the desert
11. Explain how the Trans-Saharan trade led to the growth of towns in West Africa. (4 mrks)
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12. Imagine you are a Trans-Saharan trader. Write a short paragraph describing the
difficulties of your journey and the goods you hope to trade. (4 mrks)
________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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13. If you could invent one thing to make Trans-Saharan trade easier, what would it be and
why? Explain how your invention would address the challenges faced by traders.
Explain how your invention would make the journey safer, faster, or more efficient.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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Research work: Slave trade in African Nations
Your guiding parameter should include the following:
# General Meaning of African slave trade: What was the slave trade, and how did it
operate in African nations?
# Origins of the African Slave Trade: When and where did the African slave trade begin?
Who were the main players involved?
# Methods of capturing slaves and enslavement: How were Africans captured and
forced into slavery? Describe the methods used.
# Destinations of the African Slave Trade: Where were the enslaved Africans
transported?
# Economic Impacts of slave trade: How did the slave trade impact the economies of
Africa and the Americas? Was it positive or negative?
# Social Impacts slave trade: Explore the social impacts of the slave trade. How did it
affect families and communities in Africa?
# Abolition and Resistance of slave trade: How did people resist slavery? Were there any
abolition movements?
# Legacies of the African Slave Trade: What are the lasting effects of the slave trade on
Africa and the world today?

Here are some tips to guide your research:

• Use a variety of reliable sources like textbooks, encyclopedias, online resources

and historical documents.
• The assignment is to be typed using font type Times New Roman, size 12,
double-spaced, with a minimum of 3 pages.
• Organize your project into sections that address each of the key points above.
• Be creative! You can present your findings in a poster, a written report, a slide
show or any other way you deem appropriate.

DUE DATE: 30TH MAY 2024

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