Which goods were traded across the Sahara by camel caravans?

Trans-Saharan trade, facilitated by camel caravans, was a vital economic engine that linked North Africa with the regions south of the desert for centuries.12

The primary goods exchanged across these routes included:

• Salt: A vital commodity that was scarce in much of western Africa, salt was brought by northern traders from Saharan deposits such as those at Bilma, Taoudenni, and Mount Ijill.23
• Gold: Often sourced from lands to the south of the Niger and Sénégal rivers, gold was a major export that drove significant interest from North African merchants.34
• Enslaved People: Human beings were unfortunately a major item of trade transported along these routes.24
• Other Commodities: Caravans also carried ivory, gum arabic, civet, horses, and various luxury manufactures.34

This trade network not only facilitated the movement of goods but also stimulated urbanization, the growth of monarchical governments, and the spread of Islam in western Africa. While the trade in these items persisted for nearly a millennium, the rise of coastal trading posts and the eventual development of modern transport led to the decline of the traditional trans-Saharan caravan routes.324