DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Development Of Economic Activities And Their Impact
This chapter will focus on the different economic levels of development achieved by man from
the period of pre-history specifically enlightening on the three-litchis of the continent of Africa
up to 19th century. Also to examine the factors that influenced the existed economic activities as
well as the impact of such activities on the respective society
The economic activities in pre-colonial Africa
The environment as an entity does influence economic activities and there is a strong relationship
between the environment and economic activities. Several economic activities developed
amongst the different people of Africa ranging from:
 Agriculture which involved the growing of crops and rearing of animals.
 Handcrafts industries which depended on skilss or hand to make and produce goods.
 Mining concerning with the process of extracting underground minerals for man‟s use.
 Trading involving the buying and exchanging of goods and services.
 Fishing, lumbering, Hunting and gathering all these differed from area to area. Basing on
the environment and the skills that the people living in a given community were gifted
with.
Agriculture
It is believed that in Africa, agriculture started about 6000 years ago. The use of discovered tools
and weapons led to the development of crop cultivation and domestication of animals. True plant
domestication probably began when the weakest plant were rejected and only seeds from the
strongest plants were set aside for re-sowing mainly yielding grasses (cereals) and the same
applied to animal domestication.
The Relationship between Agriculture, the Environment and Technological Development
Show the relationship between agriculture, the environment and technological development
Contributions of technological development to development of agriculture;
After a through look into different agricultural practices that existed in Africa, it is equally
paramount to know the contributions of technology to the development of agriculture in Africa.
The increased use of iron tools amongst the different societies of Africa, led to the increase
of land for cultivation, which resulted into increased agricultural productivity. The food storage
skills insured an insurance against loss of future crops through natural disasters such as drought
or flood thus food supply throughout the year. Some communities whose soils easily exhausted
developed the use of manure which renewed the land and thus increased production. The
development and use of irrigation opened up the once un-cultivatable to be productive for
agriculture once again.
Not only did the technological improvement contribute to the development of agriculture but
also the environment had the great bearing on the development of agriculture in Africa.
The reliable rainfall supplemented with the fertile soils in given areas resulted in the
development of permanent crop agriculture or cultivation accompanied with increased
agricultural production
Pest free and disease free areas were suitable for both crop and animal husbandry, as they
would attract settlement. Also in place is the availability of iron technology in given societies
making it possible for the making of iron tools which advanced on the methods of production
and thus increased productivity.

It ensured man with reliable food supplies, The impacts of agricultural development are
immeasurable as it ensured man with reliable food supplies, permanent settlement, labour
specialization and surplus production and thus increase in population.
Farming was not suitable in every environment, the disadvantage of settled farming may also
have been apparent through farming could support a larger population; it left the people more
exposed to the dangers of famine caused by natural disasters such as drought and floods.
The Types of Agricultural Practices in Africa
Explain the types of agricultural practices in Africa
Different types of agriculture developed in the different African societies these included:
 Permanent crop cultivation
 Mixed farming
 Pastoralism
 Shifting cultivation
Successful agriculture depended on the ecology or natural fertility of the soil, adequate rainfall,
technical skills of the famers and the ability to find most suitable and successful crops. However,
this was not a simple task as it required patience and the ability to learn more from experience. It
was the trial and error system.
Permanent crop cultivation
This involved the growing of perennial crops as potatoes, bananas, yam, beans and maize on a
permanent basis. This was majorly employed in areas where there was extra land. Not every
society could practice this form of agriculture but the environment dictated the terms.
Areas that received heavy and reliable rainfall were free from pests and diseases, having fertile
soil did serve best for permanent crop cultivation. With the development of iron technology
societies which practiced this moved from communalism to feudalism. In East Africa it was
majorly practiced in the interlacustrine regions such as Buganda, Kagera Kenyan highlands,
Ankole around Mount Kilimanjaro, parts of Kigoma and rungwe. In West Africa in the Fante,
Yoruba, Ashanti, Ife and Akwam.
With the development of permanent crop cultivation people begn to live in larger, more
permanent settlement, the permanence of settlement quickened the development of instrument
production, there were increase in population as a result of improved diet, food supply became
more regular and abundant, brought important social as well as technical changes many
developed into centralised states for example Fante, Benin, Oyo and Meroe.
Lastly was the development of handcrafts industries such as iron smelting and social
differentiation.
Mixed farming
This is an agricultural system which involves growing of crops and rearing of animals on the
same piece of land. It evolved in areas which supported both pastoralism and crop cultivation.
Crops grown in this agricultural practice included cereals such as millet, sorghum, cassava and
maize animals kept included cattle, goats, sheep, cows and donkey.
The mixed farmers existed because the areas they lived had unreliable rainfall and their soils
could easily be exhausted so one thing had to supplement the other. Mixed farmers in East Africa
included the Gogo, Sangu, Sukuma, Kurya and Fipa in Tanzania, Luyia in Southwest Kenya, the
Basoga and Gisu of Eastern Uganda. The relation of production was mainly communal with low
production, division of labour based on age and sex

The mixed farmers in East Africa demonstrated achievement in their practices as they developed
centralised political organisations for example the Busoga in Uganda under Omuloki, specialised
in different activities. Specialisation in these societies resulted into development of trade, at first
it was among the mixed farmers and later it resulted in the formation of long distance trade.
Shifting cultivation
This involves spending a given period of time working on land and moving from one area that is
exhausted to a new fresh piece of land. It was mainly practiced by the people who lived in
grassland plateaus for example Miombo wood land savanna in central Tanzania were the rainfall
was little and unreliable and the soil could be easily exhausted
These soils could support the growth of cassava, sorghum, maize, millet, cowpeas, pumpkins
plus many more other crops.the rearing of livestock was made difficult due to the fact that these
areas were infected with tsetse flies and other livestock diseases. The soils that easily became
exhausted necessitated people to move from one place to another in search of the fertile piece of
land. However people in some communities were living a settled life even if they were practicing
this type of agriculture.
Pastoralism
This involves the keeping of livestock. The herding of domestic animals (cattle, sheep or goats),
which were real and potential source of food particularly; milk, meat, animal skins and the herds
were also exchanged with the different neighboring societies.
Areas with semi arid and arid conditions like scanty rainfall, (rainfall that is just enough to
support the growth of pasture), poor soils which could only support pastoralism as the major
economic activity within the area. In East Africa the dry areas include the lift valley areas of
Tanzania and Kenya comprising of societies like the Maasai, Nyaturu, Barbaig and the
karamanjong in Uganda.
Where the people were largely pastoralists their settlement tended to be less permanent as they
moved in search of varying season pastures and water.
These people had no centralised political system they used the age set system in their production
and they also kept large herds because of their use value and prestige.
How Agriculture Changed Man's Life
Explain how agriculture changed man's life
The development of agriculture changed man's life in various ways, for instance;
 with the development of permanent crop cultivation people began to live in permanent
settlement,
 there was increase of population,
 development of instruments of productions,
 development of centralized states,
 development of trade, and
 the division of labour.
The economic activities in pre-colonial Africa
The environment as an entity does influence economic activities and there is a strong relationship
between the environment and economic activities. Several economic activities developed
amongst the different people of Africa ranging from:

 Agriculture which involved the growing of crops and rearing of animals.
 Handcrafts industries which depended on skilss or hand to make and produce goods.
 Mining concerning with the process of extracting underground minerals for man‟s use.
 Trading involving the buying and exchanging of goods and services.
 Fishing, lumbering, Hunting and gathering all these differed from area to area. Basing on
the environment and the skills that the people living in a given community were gifted
with.
Agriculture
It is believed that in Africa, agriculture started about 6000 years ago. The use of discovered tools
and weapons led to the development of crop cultivation and domestication of animals. True plant
domestication probably began when the weakest plant were rejected and only seeds from the
strongest plants were set aside for re-sowing mainly yielding grasses (cereals) and the same
applied to animal domestication.
The Relationship between Agriculture, the Environment and Technological Development
Show the relationship between agriculture, the environment and technological development
Contributions of technological development to development of agriculture;
After a through look into different agricultural practices that existed in Africa, it is equally
paramount to know the contributions of technology to the development of agriculture in Africa.
The increased use of iron tools amongst the different societies of Africa, led to the increase
of land for cultivation, which resulted into increased agricultural productivity. The food storage
skills insured an insurance against loss of future crops through natural disasters such as drought
or flood thus food supply throughout the year. Some communities whose soils easily exhausted
developed the use of manure which renewed the land and thus increased production. The
development and use of irrigation opened up the once un-cultivatable to be productive for
agriculture once again.
Not only did the technological improvement contribute to the development of agriculture but
also the environment had the great bearing on the development of agriculture in Africa.
The reliable rainfall supplemented with the fertile soils in given areas resulted in the
development of permanent crop agriculture or cultivation accompanied with increased
agricultural production
Pest free and disease free areas were suitable for both crop and animal husbandry, as they
would attract settlement. Also in place is the availability of iron technology in given societies
making it possible for the making of iron tools which advanced on the methods of production
and thus increased productivity.
It ensured man with reliable food supplies, The impacts of agricultural development are
immeasurable as it ensured man with reliable food supplies, permanent settlement, labour
specialization and surplus production and thus increase in population.
Farming was not suitable in every environment, the disadvantage of settled farming may also
have been apparent through farming could support a larger population; it left the people more
exposed to the dangers of famine caused by natural disasters such as drought and floods.
The Types of Agricultural Practices in Africa
Explain the types of agricultural practices in Africa
Different types of agriculture developed in the different African societies these included:
 Permanent crop cultivation

 Mixed farming
 Pastoralism
 Shifting cultivation
Successful agriculture depended on the ecology or natural fertility of the soil, adequate rainfall,
technical skills of the famers and the ability to find most suitable and successful crops. However,
this was not a simple task as it required patience and the ability to learn more from experience. It
was the trial and error system.
Permanent crop cultivation
This involved the growing of perennial crops as potatoes, bananas, yam, beans and maize on a
permanent basis. This was majorly employed in areas where there was extra land. Not every
society could practice this form of agriculture but the environment dictated the terms.
Areas that received heavy and reliable rainfall were free from pests and diseases, having fertile
soil did serve best for permanent crop cultivation. With the development of iron technology
societies which practiced this moved from communalism to feudalism. In East Africa it was
majorly practiced in the interlacustrine regions such as Buganda, Kagera Kenyan highlands,
Ankole around Mount Kilimanjaro, parts of Kigoma and rungwe. In West Africa in the Fante,
Yoruba, Ashanti, Ife and Akwam.
With the development of permanent crop cultivation people begn to live in larger, more
permanent settlement, the permanence of settlement quickened the development of instrument
production, there were increase in population as a result of improved diet, food supply became
more regular and abundant, brought important social as well as technical changes many
developed into centralised states for example Fante, Benin, Oyo and Meroe.
Lastly was the development of handcrafts industries such as iron smelting and social
differentiation.
Mixed farming
This is an agricultural system which involves growing of crops and rearing of animals on the
same piece of land. It evolved in areas which supported both pastoralism and crop cultivation.
Crops grown in this agricultural practice included cereals such as millet, sorghum, cassava and
maize animals kept included cattle, goats, sheep, cows and donkey.
The mixed farmers existed because the areas they lived had unreliable rainfall and their soils
could easily be exhausted so one thing had to supplement the other. Mixed farmers in East Africa
included the Gogo, Sangu, Sukuma, Kurya and Fipa in Tanzania, Luyia in Southwest Kenya, the
Basoga and Gisu of Eastern Uganda. The relation of production was mainly communal with low
production, division of labour based on age and sex
The mixed farmers in East Africa demonstrated achievement in their practices as they developed
centralised political organisations for example the Busoga in Uganda under Omuloki, specialised
in different activities. Specialisation in these societies resulted into development of trade, at first
it was among the mixed farmers and later it resulted in the formation of long distance trade.
Shifting cultivation
This involves spending a given period of time working on land and moving from one area that is
exhausted to a new fresh piece of land. It was mainly practiced by the people who lived in
grassland plateaus for example Miombo wood land savanna in central Tanzania were the rainfall
was little and unreliable and the soil could be easily exhausted
These soils could support the growth of cassava, sorghum, maize, millet, cowpeas, pumpkins
plus many more other crops.the rearing of livestock was made difficult due to the fact that these

areas were infected with tsetse flies and other livestock diseases. The soils that easily became
exhausted necessitated people to move from one place to another in search of the fertile piece of
land. However people in some communities were living a settled life even if they were practicing
this type of agriculture.
Pastoralism
This involves the keeping of livestock. The herding of domestic animals (cattle, sheep or goats),
which were real and potential source of food particularly; milk, meat, animal skins and the herds
were also exchanged with the different neighboring societies.
Areas with semi arid and arid conditions like scanty rainfall, (rainfall that is just enough to
support the growth of pasture), poor soils which could only support pastoralism as the major
economic activity within the area. In East Africa the dry areas include the lift valley areas of
Tanzania and Kenya comprising of societies like the Maasai, Nyaturu, Barbaig and the
karamanjong in Uganda.
Where the people were largely pastoralists their settlement tended to be less permanent as they
moved in search of varying season pastures and water.
These people had no centralised political system they used the age set system in their production
and they also kept large herds because of their use value and prestige.
How Agriculture Changed Man's Life
Explain how agriculture changed man's life
The development of agriculture changed man's life in various ways, for instance;
 with the development of permanent crop cultivation people began to live in permanent
settlement,
 there was increase of population,
 development of instruments of productions,
 development of centralized states,
 development of trade, and
 the division of labour.
Handicrafts,Industries and Mining in Pre-Colonial Africa
Handcrafts can be defined as the art of using your skills and hand to designs and fashion things,
or it's an activity done with on's hands requiring artistic skills. Such goods may include tools,
baskets, and cloth to mention but a few. In pre-colonial Africa different hand crafts industries
emerged as man specialized on to other activities apart from agriculture. These included iron
making industries, basketry, spinning and weaving cloth making, carving, canoe making and
many more.
The Meaning of Handcrafts, Industries, and Mining
Explain the meaning of handcrafts, industries, and mining
Mining industries:
Are industries which involve the process of extracting underground minerals such as copper,
gold, tin and salt mining industries.
An industry is a place where transformation of raw materials into finished goods is carried out.
The natural resources that existed in a given society determined the nature of industries to be
found in a given area.
The Types of Industries and Their Advantages in Pre-Africa
Differentiate the types of industries and their advantages in pre-Africa

Types of industries
 Iron industries
 Salt making
 Copper industry
 Handcrafts industries
Iron industries.
The discovery of iron resulted in drastic socio-political and economic changes. The people who
were dealing in iron were called blacksmiths a person whose job is to make and repair things
made with iron, learns how to identify rocks containing iron ore.
In the way of trying to maintain monopoly over the knowledge of iron making it was kept as a
secret and in many societies it was even ritualised (made a religious thing). Different society had
different beliefs as many believed that the women were not allowed to furnace as it was
presumed that the iron would be spoilt.
Methods of obtaining and processing iron:
Blacksmiths identified the rocks that were bore iron ore collecting them and smelting the iron
found in the trenches or clay furnaces. They had to use charcoal fuel and maintained the high
temperatures in the furnaces by fanning the live charcoal with bellows. The smelted iron was
then shaped into different forms and tools like spear heads, knives, axes, panga and wire. The
places where the iron industries were found included the Venda people of Northern Transvaal,
the Mashona people of Zimbabwe, the Iteso of Eastern Uganda, along Kilambo falls, Futa
Djalon, Meroe and many others.
Salt making industries
Salt is not only a food ingredient but was also used to preserve food. The increased use of salt
resulted into the development of trade and agriculture as salt led to more food production, the use
of salt was found in almost all communities as it was important in different communities.
Methods of obtaining and processing salt:
There are four methods of obtaining and processing salt in different communities, these included:
Traditional method
Under the tradition method salt was obtained from the reeds growing in marshy areas, gathered,
dried and burnt to ashes. The ashes were then collected, filtered and the liquid was boiled to
evaporate, the residue was used as salt. The Manganja people settled along Lake Nyasa
commonly used this method.
Mining of salt bearing rocks
Rocks contained salt was dug out and the crystals were used. In here the rocks that contain salt
are identified and are dug out, it is probably the most commonly used method of obtaining and
processing salt. Place were it is used include Kasese, Bilma, Taghaza, Katwe and many others.
Boiling and evaporation
Under this method as the spring waters boil underneath the earth's surface, they do evaporate and
spill over the land surface where they cool to form salt crystals which crystals are used as salt.
This was commonly practiced in Uvinza, Shinyanga and also among the Venda people.
Developed among the coastal regions
Along the coastal regions salty waters were trapped into pans and left to evaporate the heat of the
sun. The crystals that did remain behind after the evaporation of salty waters were then used as
salt.

Gold industries
Gold is one of the most precious minerals and it was not found in every area as other minerals
which makes it precious and valuable. The communities that mined gold showed drastic social,
political and economic developments.
Methods of obtaining and processing gold
Panning method
This method was commonly carried out along the river beds where alluvial gold was extracted. It
was somehow tiresome as people had to try several times in order to obtain the mineral. This
method was common among the Sabi people living along river Zambezi
Shaft method
This method was commonly used in the areas with gold veins. Here the gold was dug out by
using wooden, stone and iron hammers, then collected in wooden baskets and taken to furnaces
were it was turned into different ornaments such as bangles, earrings plus many more.
Copper industries
The copper industry is believed to be the oldest industry that existed in almost all pre colonial
African societies. Different societies did participate to the industries due to the fact that the
copper existed in their communities.
Methods used in obtaining and processing copper
Identification of a copper belt
The copper was dug out and then taken to the furnaces where it was smelted. The smelted copper
was turned into different tools which were relatively important to the society for example wire
traps, knives axes etc. the areas that carried out this included places where the copper belt were
found for example the Katanga copper belt and Kasese.
Handcrafts industries
Cloth making industries (weaving and spinning):
These industries were concerned with making clothes and developed in areas where cloth
making materials were available. Spinning and wearing, making of bark –cloth developed in
areas with cotton and appropriate tree barks.
Famous spinning and weaving societies in Africa include Yoruba people of West Africa,
Sumbawanga in Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique as well as the people found in Lake Rukwa
valley in Tanzania as for bark cloth areas North of Lake Victoria, interlacustrine societies for
example in Buganda they used the Mvule tree to make (Olubugo) bark cloth which was very
expensive and it was only the rich and the nobles who could afford it
Basketry and carpentry
Closely associated with agrarian societies whose style of life was more complex and
sophisticated and in places that were privileged with palm and special reeds holding vessels
specialised in the making of baskets and mats plus special leather work was needed for making
leather clothes, sandals, bags, and beddings from animal skins and hides. It‟s associated with
pastoralists such as Tuareg, Beja, Ajar, and Somali who made tents.
Canoe making
The art of making canoes developed in areas bordering lakes, rivers and oceans. Different
societies who carried this had their major economic activity as fishing which in many cases
supplemented agriculture.
This therefore means that nature of resources available in a given society determined the nature
of handcrafts industry present in that society.
Trade in pre colonial Africa

Trade refers to the exchange of goods or services with money or other goods or is the buying and
selling of goods
The development of agriculture brought important economic changes as people were now able to
produce surplus food which is more than needed to feed their own immediate family thus the
surplus could be traded between neighboring settlement in exchange for raw materials luxuries
and other items not produced within the community
It is clear that societies are not fully self sufficient. Therefore, interactions say between
pastoralists with cultivators and agriculturalists with craftsmen in order to exchange goods are
required. The major means of distributions from one hand to another were through gifts, tributes
and taxation.
The exchanges carried out were not aimed at getting profit but it was after the use value of
commodities and also strengthening relations. For example a person who exchanged his cattle
with millet was not in search of profit.
Before the emergence of groups of people who specialised in trade the exchange system was
barter this involved the exchange of goods for goods.
As societies developed trade development was also inevitable basing on the fact that some
societies were not having specific resources which could only be obtained through the exchange.
Increase in surplus production supplemented with the development of industries, the presence of
safe routes and the regional specialisation not forgetting the love for adventure cemented the
development and expansion of trading activities in pre colonial Africa.
The expansion of trading activities resulted into two major types of trade emerging in pre
colonial Africa.
1. The local trade (internal exchange relations). This developed within given community.
2. Regional trade (long distance trade). Where there emerged groups of people who
specialized and could buy goods from producers in order to sell them later at a profit.
The Uses of Different Types of Minerals in Pre-Colonial Africa
Explain the uses of different types of minerals in pre-colonial Africa
All in all the handcrafts and mining industries had far reaching effects to the communities and
societies of pre colonial Africa. Increased food production was evident as tool of production was
improved up on through the technological development, trade was also increased as the volume
of food traded and the demand increased this in turn acted as a source of income to many
societies which later rose socially, politically and economically more settled populations and
communities new political system and organizations, the blacksmith became recognized,
influential and famous people in the society, the iron tools could dig and cut faster and deeper
than the stone tools and many others.
Trade in Pre-Colonial Africa
The Basis of Trade in Pre-Colonial Africa
Explain the basis of trade in pre-colonial Africa
Local trade
This was conducted from the village among the homogenous community, it did not require
specific places to act as a markets, there was no need of middle men as goods passed freely from
the hands of producers to consumers.

Many pre colonial African societies at first developed this trade as it availed them with the
commodities they needed with much ease. People living within a given community exchanged
commodities amongst themselves in order to fill the missing link; for example, cultivators could
exchange their food with the livestock from the pastoralists, other commodities exchanged
included iron tools, ornaments, animal skins and agricultural produce.
Generally speaking, the exchange which started with the intention to cement the existing social
bonds amongst the different societies resulted in the growth of several industries, simulation of
production for goods required in the exchange. It also led to the increase in incomes of the
people who actively participated in the trade, the emergence and development of relationships
among people of different localities for example the Sukuma trading with the Maasai and also
the availability of all goods in the community brought about by increased production and the
expansion in the exchanges.
The Types of Trade, Types of Commodities and the Societies Involved
Identify the types of trade, types of commodities and the societies involved
Regional trade
Trade between East and Central Africa started from the 1st millennium AD as they traded in
raffia cloth, ivory and hides, copper from Katanga exchanged with salt from Uvinza.
This was concerned with the exchange of goods with people from different regions. This called
for specialisation and dealt with the commodities which were relatively scarce and geographical
un evenly distributed among the people of different ethnic groups. Regional trade involved
different regions in the trading process. In East and Central Africa it came to be known as long
distance trade while in West Africa it was called trans Saharan trade.
Long Distance Trade
It is called long distance trade simply because it was carried out long distance as people/traders
had to move for long distance going on exchanging goods with other societies and the major aim
was to get profit for example a salt traders was exchanged salt foe hoes not because he wanted to
use hoes but he wanted re sell them at a profit later.
Professional traders (trade being their major occupation) came from Yao, Chewa and Bissa of
Central Africa. Imbangala and vimbundu from Angola, Dyula merchants and the Marabouts of
West Africa. In East Africa the Nyamwezi, Yao and Kamba were famous long distance traders,
through trading and supplying ivory, slaves and copper to the exterior of East Africa Indian
ocean coast. This organisation required fixed places to act as markets and the use of middlemen
as the entrepreneurs.
In East Africa it was mainly carried out during the dry season and during the rainy season they
settled down for agricultural activities.
By the10th century AD the Yao and Chewa were exporting ivory and iron to the coast. The
Shona of Zimbabwe exported ivory and gold to the coast which were then exported to the Far
East and then return they imported glass wear, cowrie's shells, beads, cotton cloth and porcelain
from the far and Middle East. They used organised caravans for security reasons and distance
standard currency such as bars of iron or copper and slabs of salt.
The long distance trade was a blessing for many societies in East and Central Africa as it gave
rise to the notorious and professional long distance traders like Tip Tippu, Mzilikazi, and Mlosi
etc
In addition to that prominent rulers such as Muteesa of Bugnanda, Mirambo of Unyamwezi,
Kimweri of Usambara and Mkwawa of the Uhehe were able to conquer and rule weaker and

neighboring societies. All this was facilitated by the acquisition of fire arms and ammunition
which were important commodities from the East coast.
Expansion and consolidation of various kingdoms for example Buganda, Bunyoro, Yao and
Nyamwezi led many of the participants to became very rich and famous from the huge profits
that were enjoyed from the trade.
The trade acted as a stepping stone for the spread of Islam in the interior of East Africa. Many of
the traders preaching Islam at the same time carrying their trading activities. Slave trade paved
its way to the interior as the interior was exposed to traders.
The Trans Saharan Trade
Trans Saharan trade is also sometimes referred to as caravan trade. It was carried out across the
Sahara desert. The trade involved different zones ranging from forest i.e. involving the forest
states such as Benin, Oyo, Kanem Bornu and many more, the savannah belt which involved the
Western Sudanic states such as Ghana, Mali and Songhai, the Sahara desert and the North
Africa, the Mediterranean world and Europe.
Factors for the rise of the Trans Saharan Trade (causes)
The introduction and use of the camels, which were introduced in Africa during 100A.D.
CamelS replaced horses and donkeys as they were more resistant to desert conditions and could
also move faster to the desert. This therefore facilitated the development of the trade as a more
efficient means of transport had been introduced
Political development that during the 7th and 16th century. This includesthe Western
Sudanic states whose rulers promoted the expansion of the trade. They ensured this by giving a
leading hand, security, freedom of movement and also encouraging people to prepare the goods
that were necessary in the trade a thing that did not existed before.
The conquest of North Africa by the Arabs, between 641 and 708 the Arabs conquered North
Africa, astraders naturally they introduced their trading system and on top of that they increased
the use of camels in North Africa and in the Sahara desert.
Development of production, in various regions of the Sudanic zone the production increased it
meant that the supplies of commodity to be used in the trade were available. As no single
community is self-sufficient this meant that the different communities had to depend on each
other for various raw materials and goods.
Organization of the trade:
commodities used; different regions had different commodities that they concentrated on, from
Europe and Muslim North Africa included manufactured goods, textile, copper, silver, woolen
garments, brass, tin and horses
From the Sahara were salt mined at Bilma, Taghaza, Taoden, Idjil and Awlil, copper mined at
Takkeda, tobacco and dates inclusive.
The savannah region had millet, sorghum, wheat, gum and ostrich feathers and livestock as well
as gold that were mined from Wangara.
The forest zone was well known for gold mines at Akan and Lobi, kola nuts, ivory and the
slaves.
The first medium of exchange was the barter system where goods were exchanged for goods but
as the people became professional traders the medium of exchange also changed the traders
started using cowries and at a later stage they started using the French franc and then the Spanish
and Australian dollars.
As caravans were organised they had to follow specific trade routes that gave them a sense of
direction on their way through the trade. The major trade route that was used included;

 From Ghat and Tripoli to Ehyot.
 From Ghana to Morocco via Audaghast.
 From Timbuktu to Tunis via Taghaza.
 From Borno to Tripoli.
 From Kano to Tunis and Tripoli via Agades.
 From Timbuktu to Tunis via Wangala, Ghademes and Ghat.
The Impact of the Following Types of Trade: Local Trade, Regional Trade
Appraise the impact of the following types of trade: local trade, regional trade
Impacts of the Trans Saharan Trade
Contributed to the formation of West African states and kingdoms, the profits that were raised
from trade helped in the development of different states, these were got through the taking over
charge or control over the trade routes and every one using that route had to pay tax or tributes.
For example Ghana Empire conquered Audaghast in 990 A.D. in view of controlling the salt
mines in that area, Mali and Songhai extended their control as far as Taghaza and Takedda for
economic reasons. It is therefore true to say that trade facilitated the rise and consolidation of the
different states.
The spread of Islam was greatly accelerated by the Trans Saharan Trade in West and North
Africa. The traders were serving two masters at a go as they were traders and also acted as
teachers of Islam (evangelists) a thing that improved on the literacy rates in the region.
Growth of towns and cities, due to the trade many areas which were once villages turned into
towns in what is known as urbanisation. Small villages turned into large towns and cities such as
Kumbi Saleh, Gao, Kano, Jenne, Timbuktu plus many others.
Improvement of political administrations, the caravan trade also improved political
administration of the different kingdoms through the use and employment of well educated
Muslim traders who had been attracted by the trade. Many of the states were also applying the
Islamic ways of administration in their different areas or jurisdiction
Exploitation of natural resources, as the influx of the Whites increased, this marked the
beginning of the exploitation of natural resources that were endowed in Africa. It is also believed
that this was the time of unequal exchange between Africa and Europe began.
Provision of constant and regular source of income, The attractive profits from trade provided
constant and regular source of income for the different states. This was mainly raised from the
custom duties that imposed on the imports and over goods of great political importance such as
horse and the different metals that were imported into the state.
Trade also provided the sources for undertaking wars of conquest and expansion through the
supply of effective means of war fare, such as horses and metals that could be used in the making
and designing arms as spears, arrows head and axes.
The Trans Saharan Trade
This was the trading relation between the people of Western Sudan (Sudanic/Savannah region)
and the people of North Africa passing across the Sahara desert. Camels were used as the means
of transport during this trade. Societies that participated in the Trans Saharan Trade included;
 The Berbers of North Africa and brought them to West Africa via the Sahara desert.
 The Arabs and the European stationed in the Mediterranean costs of North Africa. These
supplied goods to the Berbers and Tuaregs who in turn sold them to the people of West
Africa. The said Arabs and purchased the items brought from West Africa.

 The West African tribes of both the Sudanic region and the forest regions to include the
Mandika, Fulani, Hausa, Edo etc. these supplied items to the Berbers and Tuaregs who
crossed the Sahara and purchased the items brought from North Africa.
Commodities involved
From North Africa the commodities were:
 Cotton and silk clothes
 Swords
 Guns and gunpowder
 Horses, etc.
from West Africa the commodities were:
 slaves
 ivory
 ostrich feathers
 kola nuts
 Gold
 Salt
 Food stuff
Trans Saharan trade was firstly carried out through barter system and there after some media of
exchange like cowries shells, silver, coins, etc. replaced the barter system.
Trade routes
The Trans Saharan Trade was carried out via the routes namely:
 The western routes
 The Central route
 The Eastern route
The Western route emerged from Fez in Morocco via Siljilmasa, Taghaza, Taoden, Walata, and
Audaghost up to Timbuktu. This route was famous because of salt mines at Taghaza and gold
mines Wangara.
The central route emerged at Tunis in Tunisia via Tuat, Taotek, Tadmekket, Timbuktu, Gao, and
Kano up to Katsina.
The Eastern route to the other hand emerged from Triplin in Libya, Alexandria and Cairo in
Egypt to Bilma via Murzuk, Ghat and Agades. This route was significant because of salt mines
in Bilma.
Factors for growth of Trans Saharan Trade
Several factors contributed to the growth and development of Trans Saharan trade. These
include:-
 Political stability in both North Africa and West Africa, hence a conducive ground forthe
trade activities to flourish.

 The desire by European traders of such items as ivory, gold and slaves which were tobe
obtained only from Western Sudan.
 The desire of European commodities by the people of Western Sudan.
 Production of surplus commodities such as kola nuts, salt, fish and other food stuffsin
Western Sudan. These had to be exported to other regions including NorthAmerica.
 The introduction and use of camels as animals of transportation, these were able tocarry
huge quantities than horses and human porters. They were also tolerable indesert
conditions.
Factors for the fall of Trans Saharan Trade
By the second half of the 19th century, the trans Saharan trade was almost collapse of this trade
was a result of the following factors:
 Introduction of trans Atlantic trade which altered the trade route of Trans Saharan Trade.
 The emergence of other sources of salt and gold needed by European traders due
toopening up of mines in the Americas.
 Scarcity of water in the desert discouraged the voyages via the desert.
 Eruption of wars (jihad) in the Maghreb region particularly Morocco. This disrupted the
trade.
 Colonisation of West African states by European powers in the last quarter of
19thcentury deteriorated the trading relations with North Africa
Effects of the Trans Saharan Trade
The Trans Saharan Trade had to a lot of effects as follows:-
 It led to development and growth of towns and cities in both North Africa and
theWestern Sudan, example being Walata, Kano, and Timbuktu etc.
 It led to emergence of rich merchants classes in Western Sudan as these merchants
accumulated a lot of wealth from the trade.
 It led to the spread of Islam, Arabic culture and language in Western Sudan.
 It led to intermarriages between the people of Western Sudan, the Arabs and AfroArabs
from North Africa.
 It led to the growth and consolidation of Sudanic states namely Ghana, Mali, Songhaiand
Kanem Bornu.vi. It stimulated the state of warfare between Western Sudanic states and
forest states dueto the desire for slaves.
Mining and hand craft industries
Mining
This is the extraction of minerals from the underground parent rocks. By the period before and
around the 19th century, minerals that were being mined in Africa include the following:-
 Copper
 Gold
 Iron
 Bronze
 Silver

 Salt.
Most of the minerals were to be taken to handcraft industries where they were then processed
into different items. Some other minerals such as salt were to be consumed directly while some
other minerals were to be used as media of exchange in trading activities.
Prominent areas in Africa where mining activities were being practiced include the following:-
 Katanga in Zaire where there were copper mines.
 Tshikapa in Zaire, Machili, Lusu, Klambo falls and Ingombe ilede.
 Gokomere, Mabven, Malapiti and Chivi in the Limpompo valley of Zimbabwe iron
wasmined.
 Mashona and Matebele lands in Zimbabwe as well as Ashanti in Ghana where gold
wasbeing mined.
 Uvinza in Western Tanzania and Taghaza in Mauritania where there were extraction
ofsalts.
Hand crafts industries
These were factories that manufactured different items through the use of machines operated
manually (by hand). Such industries include those that dealt with metal works namely:
 Iron processing industries
 Copper processing industries
 Salt making industries
The said metal working industries were mainly located near their respective mining areas.
Prominent societies that were experts in metal works include:
 The people of Chipembe, and Kalomo in Zambia, the people of Mwavarambo,Phopo and
Nkope Bay in Malawi as well as the Yoruba and the Edo of Nigeriawho were experts in
iron smelting industries.
 The Shona and Ndebele of Zimbabwe, the Akan and the Asante of Ghana whowere
famous in gold coast smithing industries.
 The Manganja of Malawi and the people of Taghaza were experts in salt making
industries.
Other industries apart from metal work industries dealt with cotton and raffia cloth making
among the Fulbe, the Felleme and Trakrur of Senegal and among the societies Guinea and
Zimbabwe.
Other industries were those dealing with Basketry, Pottery and wood carving. Wood carving
industries were common among the Makonde of Tanzania and the Yoruba of Nigeria.
Items made from the said handcraft industries were to be sold in exchange with other products
like agricultural products, animal products etc.
THE MAP OF TRANS SAHARAN TRADE ROUTES

Exercise 1
BASIC ASSIGNMENT TODO
1. Define the following terms Technology Agriculture Trade Environment Development
2. List the four agricultural processes that were carried out among the different societies in
East Africa.
3. Mention any four advantages and effects of agriculture to the different African societies.
4. Mention the different handcrafts that existed in pre colonial African societies.
5. Outline the different types of trade that where present in the pre colonial African
societies.
6. What factors contributed to the development of trans Saharan trade?
7. Mention the different regions that participated in the Trans Saharan trade.
8. Mention four notorious and professional long distance traders.
9. List the different methods in the obtaining and processing of salt in the pre colonial
African societies.
10. What factors gave rise to the Trans Saharan trade?
11. List four principles of trade routes that were used in trans Saharan slave trade.
12. What were the impacts or effects of trans Saharan trade?
History Form 1 Topics
 Sources And Importance Of History
 Evolution Of Man, Technology And Environment
 Development Of Economic Activities And Their Impact

 Development Of Social And Political Systems
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