No dromedary domestication

As title says-dromedary camel is never domesticated and wild form, like IOTL, is excint. Bactrian is the living camel species now. What would be consequences? That should have significant impact on history of Middle East and North Africa. Camel caravans played important role in trans-Saharan and trans-Arabian trade. Without camels contacts between Meditdrranean co of Africa and Sahelian belt would be limited compared to OTL, unless camels made their way there anyway-bactrians still exist and should be more widespread than IOTL. Bactrians coexists with dromedaries in Iran and Afghanistan-now they have no one humped competition there and should spread to Northern India and maybe to Arabia too. But-introduction of camels to ME and NA would still be delayed compared to OTL. And-bactrian camel is more cold adapted than dromedary, so wouldn't camel's southern range be more limited? For example-could it adapt to places like Afar and Somalian Desert?
 
Bactrian camels are very resilient to extreme hot and cold, and fur-shearing techniques may be employed in particularly hot weather if they can't tolerate it. Their husbandry is rather similar, and both camel species are incredibly useful for premodern desert transport, particularly as trading pack animals. If we assume this delays the entry of domesticated camels into Western Eurasia and North Africa, then donkey caravans may continue from Ethiopia, Chad, Somalia and Mauritania longer. They'd be substantially more difficult and inefficient logistically and resource-wise, so Trans-Saharan trade may be impeded longer. Incidentally, this could encourage Indian Ocean trade, West Saharan coastal explorations or even simply leave hyperarid regions in the Old world even less habitable for longer. Donkey caravans are easier from the eastern side of the Sahel and Sahara, so that may slow West African contacts and encourage the presumed Persian-Ethiopian-Congolese trade infrastructure to strengthen until more effective Bactrian caravans can arrive from West and Central Asia. Central Africa might just be more connected and fixated within Eurasia than OTL, though that's up luck and to how extensive the trade was historically. The use of specialized desert caravan breeds of Sahel or Arabian horses, goats or donkeys might fill the vacuum within the region's cultures until camels arrive, and might retain some functional and cultural significant afterwards.
 

SwampTiger

Banned
The use of specialized desert caravan breeds of Sahel or Arabian horses, goats or donkeys might fill the vacuum within the region's cultures until camels arrive, and might retain some functional and cultural significant afterwards.

Mules bred for the conditions would fill the need. A specially bred Bactrian breed might arise.
 
Bactrian camels were commonly used in ancient Persia (Iranian Plateau was once within range of wild bactrians) and from Persia it was introduced to Syria. Bactrians were used by Roman dromedarii (contrary to the name of that unit). But after Arab conquest dromedaries expanded at cost of bactrians and largely replaced them in Syria, Iran and Indus Valley:

http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/camel-sotor

So does it mean dromedary is somewhat superior to his two humped cousin?
 
camels also partially led to the desertification of north African (coastal strip) just by pounding the soil and eating the vegetation along with the other animals typical of the nomad package i.e. goats/sheep. Take away the camel entirely (not ASB as they were eaten in north America or just died out after the last ice age OTL) and you change the dark ages and the medieval period moving trade to the coasts more rather than the Silk roads???....
 
Cheese was invented by accident when nomads used the stomachs of baby camels to carry milk, so that might be butterflied or might emerge by accident elsewhere.
 
Muslim Conquest would be delayed or limited, Muslim effective use of camel in their logistics enable it to choose battle, without this advantage strength of Caliphate armies would be weakened.
 
Muslim Conquest would be delayed or limited, Muslim effective use of camel in their logistics enable it to choose battle, without this advantage strength of Caliphate armies would be weakened.
There would be massive butterflies long before Muhammad-pre-Islamic Arabia would not looks the same without camels. Transport of goods from southern Arabia to Levant would be even more difficutl than IOTL.
 
There would be massive butterflies long before Muhammad-pre-Islamic Arabia would not looks the same without camels. Transport of goods from southern Arabia to Levant would be even more difficutl than IOTL.

Wouldnt a naval trade route via the Red Sea emerge easily enough?
 

SwampTiger

Banned
Yes, naval trade was available near coasts. However, internal routes would require donkeys, mules and horses. Oxen are probably not feasible in the deserts. Chariot/wagon trains pulled by horses were used in the ancient Sahara trade. This would be possible in areas with less sand dunes and loose/soft sand.
 
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