Running head: ISLAM AND TRADE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 1 Islam and Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa Name Institutional Affiliation
ISLAM AND TRADE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 2 Assignment 2: Islam and Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa Trade was one of the activities which was widely spread in the ancient times and transcended cultural borders. It was perceived as the major way of acquiring commodities which one region lacked. It also gave the regions with surplus commodities the channel through which they could dispose off constructively. It was therefore a necessary practice since no region or community had all the resources they needed. Trade facilitated cultural and religious exchanges as merchants traversed different territories of varied cultural and religious beliefs (Smith & Smith, 2012). The religion of Islam became widespread in the Northern parts of Africa through trade between 700-1000 CE. Sub-Saharan Africa was connected to the Arabian Peninsula from where Islamic merchants and scholars came from in southwest Asia. They used the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and mainland routes at Cairo in Egypt to penetrate Africa via the north. Subsequently, they also used the Indian Ocean to traverse the coastal towns of East Africa and the south eastern coasts of Africa spreading their religious teachings as well as doing trade. The trade routes and links were not only effective for conducting trade but also for Islamic scholars who were at times the merchants themselves to pass on their teachings, to the local communities they passed through (Levtzion & Pouwels, 2000). Trade in West Africa in particular was very intense owing to the presence of highly competitive commodities which were available and were in plenty. These merchandises included gold, salt, slaves and textiles among others. There were also regions with weapons which the merchants took a lot of interest in. Africa was rich in minerals such as salt and gold and had numerous mineral ores which only encouraged the foreign traders, for their supply was reliable.
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