Describe reasons for the decline of Trans-Saharan trade

      

Describe reasons for the decline of Trans-Saharan trade

  

Answers


John
-Exhaustion of the main trading commodities like salt and gold.

-Insecurity experienced in the region discouraged many merchants.

-The invasion of Moroccan Ports along the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean sea by sea by the two
Iberian countries i.e Portugal and Spain between 1471 and 1505 AD further disrupted trade.

-The Ottoman Turks’ in North Africa further worsened the already bad situation.

-Insecurity in North Africa and subsequent colonization of North Africa sparked wars that

eventually shifted the traders preoccupation with trading.

-Moroccan invasion of Western Sudan in the 18th century undermined trade as it created insecurity and anarchy in region.

-The growth of Trans-Atlantic trade contributed greatly to the collapse of the trade.

-Many traders in western Sudan diverted their attention from the Trans-saharan trade to the new
trade.

-The Anti-slave trade crusade waged by the British philanthropists from the 1840s and the
subsequent abolition of the slave trade led to the demise of the Trans-Saharan because slaves were
one of important trading commodities.

-Colonization of the African continent by the European powers from the 19th century i.e, resources
from North and West Africa came under control of different powers.

-European penetration of the interior regions impacted negatively on the importance of middlemen
in the trade as European traders began dealing directly with producers.

-The establishment of commercial ports on the West African coast and the use of navigable rivers
by the 16th century AD rendered caravan trade unpopular as it was slow cumbersome and risky i.e
many traders now preferred to use water transport.

-Political instability i.e the collapse of empires created anarchy and insecurity which disrupted
trading activities in the area.

-Change of role by Tuaregs :- The Tuaregs abandoned their traditional role of protecting traders
and became robbers.

-They also neglected the oases that were previously well maintained.
johnmulu answered the question on March 13, 2017 at 12:46


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