WI: Earlier Trans-Sahara Camel Caravans
- Thread starter DominusNovus
- Start date
In otl, West Africa might have been unified before the Gold Trade.
The first West African empire is the Ghana Empire.
Ghana Empire - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Technically this civilization existed before the peak of the Gold Trade. What we don't know is if it became a empire because of the Gold Trade or the Gold Trade peaked because the formation of the empire.
Unfortunately written accounts don't really become present until Islam becomes heavily entrenched in the region so we probably won't entirely know.
In otl, West Africa might have been unified before the Gold Trade.
The first West African empire is the Ghana Empire.
Ghana Empire - Wikipedia
Technically this civilization existed before the peak of the Gold Trade. What we don't know is if it became a empire because of the Gold Trade or the Gold Trade peaked because the formation of the empire.
Unfortunately written accounts don't really become present until Islam becomes heavily entrenched in the region so we probably won't entirely know.
And the earliest dates for Ghana coincide with the introduction of the camel caravans (and there are later possible dates). It does imply that the caravans were the cause.
I did a quick perusal and there doesn’t seem to be much mention of camels in either thread.
Here’s a slightly different angle to this question: what effect, if any, would the political stability of North Africa have on the west African states - lets just call it Ghana for ease, even if its not necessarily the kingdom that would be founded - in a scenario in which the camel is introduced earlier?
Consider that, if the camel were introduced to the trans-Sahara routes around AD 300, that gives this trade about a century under Roman rule, before a century of Vandal rule, then back to Roman rule, until things gradual evaporate to the Arabs, who then break apart in the region into a variety of regional states.
If the trade routes are established during the height of the Roman Empire, or even before, such as during the Carthaginian era, where there was one major state in the region, and a more unified Mediterranean trade network, would that have much impact on the Saharan trade routes?
Consider that, if the camel were introduced to the trans-Sahara routes around AD 300, that gives this trade about a century under Roman rule, before a century of Vandal rule, then back to Roman rule, until things gradual evaporate to the Arabs, who then break apart in the region into a variety of regional states.
If the trade routes are established during the height of the Roman Empire, or even before, such as during the Carthaginian era, where there was one major state in the region, and a more unified Mediterranean trade network, would that have much impact on the Saharan trade routes?
The interesting factors would in my view be whether major slave trade would be established by the Romans or Vandals and whether Christianity would make it across the Sahara. If they avoid the slave trade, it would be a major benefit for Subsaharan Africa, if they doesn’t it would simply create the same destabilizing factor for both Subsaharan Africa and Maghreb.
Seems that slaves were not a key commodity until much later on in the trade. I don’t think the Romans were particularly desperate for more, so I think it would be a minor part of the trade.
Slaves would have been easier and cheaper to acquire elsewhere than Africa.
Although I do wonder how more frequent contact with Africans will change racial attitudes in the ancient world.
I don't think the ancient world really had racial attitudes as we think of them. There were no shortage of contacts with sub-Saharan Africans in the ancient Mediterranean. There just was a shortage of economically viable connections.
Is it early enough in Christianity that increased trade could add some "Ghanian" influences?
Yeah, if anything, the slaves purchased from Ghana would be more as prestige buys for nobles. Much less so for labor.
Trade items of valuables would be gold and silver jewelry, ivory, items I think.
Also Kola nuts might be a major mover I think. They are stimulants. Perhaps they'd be a craze in North Africa.
Trade items of valuables would be gold and silver jewelry, ivory, items I think.
Also Kola nuts might be a major mover I think. They are stimulants. Perhaps they'd be a craze in North Africa.
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You mean influences on Christianity as practiced in the Empire? Not likely, the connection is too purely economic. There weren’t too many influences on Islam, after all.
Now, locally is an entirely different matter.
Mud cloth trade might be a prestige item as well. Or maybe a temporary fad among some Saharan or North African elite. Maybe in Europe too.
Probably going to export baby lions, rhinos, hippos, and whatever else animals they can get their hands on. Might do wonders in a colliseum. Hell, maybe Gorillas would be a sensation too.
Palm tree and boabab tree products would do alright.
Probably going to export baby lions, rhinos, hippos, and whatever else animals they can get their hands on. Might do wonders in a colliseum. Hell, maybe Gorillas would be a sensation too.
Palm tree and boabab tree products would do alright.
Color me skeptical that they'll have luck transporting many exotic animals across the Sahara.
I'm sure some would try, and it might be possible with good planning, probable a lot more failures than successes though.
Lions, rhinos, and hippos they already had access too anyway.
Which is why I doubt they will do so. Maybe some smaller animals, but large ones? Nah.
My bad they can get those animals from North Africa.
I think Gorillas might be a niche that atl Ghana can get through the southern forest regions. Maybe put on display rather than for the collisuem. Probably extremely expensive to obtain. Maybe a handful a year are possible. Not much.
@DominusNovus
What do you think about Chimps and baboons? They're a bit more aggressive. Might be used in the collisuem.
Ummm.... OK, you have lots of things the mediterranean countries might want.
What's going the other direction?
Historically the main item was salt.
Also cloth, beads, and metal goods, but salt is at the top of every list I've seen.
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