Trans-Saharan trade

Trans-Saharan trade was an important trade route in history. It involved merchants moving goods, such as gold, salt, spices, and cloth, from one side of the Sahara Desert to the other. The merchants would travel back and forth between sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa in ships called caravans. It was a long journey that could take months, but it was still very profitable. People in North Africa had things to trade that people in Africa wanted, such as cloth, metal tools, and weapons. People in Africa had things to trade that people in North Africa wanted, such as gold, salt, ivory, and slaves. By trading with each other, everyone got the things they wanted and needed.