Trans-Saharan Gold Trade

Timeline

1. c. 800–1076Ghana Empire–Awdaghust corridor · SahelBerber and Arab merchants traveled south along Sahara oasis routes, establishing stable exchange relations with the gold-producing areas controlled by the Ghana Empire; salt slabs were carried north from places like Taghaza, while gold dust and slaves moved south, forming the basic structure and tax base of trans-Saharan trade.
2. c. 1076–1375Timbuktu–Fez trade route · TimbuktuAfter replacing Ghana, the Mali Empire exercised more direct control over goldfields and trade routes, with Timbuktu becoming a gold distribution center; Mansa Musa's pilgrimage made the Mediterranean world aware of the vast scale of West African gold supply, and Maghreb ports and Cairo's gold market were deeply affected by this trade flow.
3. c. 1375–1500Gao–Timbuktu hub · GaoThe Songhai Empire continued to control the trade routes with Gao as its political center, but the rise of Portuguese trade along the Atlantic coast in the 15th century diverted some gold exports; traditional camel caravan trade still maintained its core function as the West Africa–Mediterranean economic link until Moroccan military intervention in the 16th century.