Expository Writing
CULMINATING ACTIVITY
"The CAMEL STOP"
© Popita & Kids Inc.
WHAT DO ?! - Analyze the Trans-Saharan GOLD-SALT Trade that led to the development of
complex civilizations in sub-Saharan Africa.
HOW DO ?! … also a RUBRIC
Gold-Salt Trade… - For centuries, traders faced life-threatening circumstances as they
Ch. 13
journeyed in caravans across the Sahara desert. The purpose was a
lifetime endeavor: to exchange precious cargo of gold and salt.
Be CREATIVE. Write from the point of view of a third, impartial character. For example, pretend you are a Griot
traveler who arrives at a Camel Stop along the West African trade route. You supplied yourself with water and
food; and now you are resting under the shade of a palm tree. You overhear these two traders talking. One is a
Taghazan, heading South; the other is a Wangaran, heading North. They are talking loud, so you can’t help but
listen to them debating. You learn a lot about the purpose of their dangerous journey, the geography of the land, the
‘cargo’ (merchandise) they are carrying, the trade, the system of taxes, and the outcome.
POINTS
1. Title Page (name. essay title, pictures; make it bold and attractive). _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5
2. Thesis/Intro - Give a brief history of the Trans-Saharan Trade system:
(Introduce the themes, era (century), location, role of the camels). _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10
Content/Body … see the next in-depth directions.
3. Describe the journey South, across the desert:
(dangers involved; what was the purpose of this endeavor) _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _10
4. Clarify the strategic geographic and economic importance of the location of Ghana kingdom:
(between the salt mines in the N & the gold mines in the S). _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _5
5. Analyze the gold and salt trade and the locations of these sources:
(salt fields of Taghaza & the gold mines of Wangara). _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 20
6. Underline the ‘intrinsic ’value (true, real worth) of trade:
(commodities people really craved for or lacked: ounce of gold per ounce of salt). _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10
7. Discuss Ghana's system of taxes…and the ultimate exchange (silent trade). _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10
8. Mention the reasons why Ghana’s empire ultimately declined. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5
9. Conclusion ~ ponder the following question:
“What are, in your opinion, the enduring lessons that the above themes try to teach you?!” _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _10
* Cite the resource Have proof of notes or graphic organizer. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _10
[Use supporting evidence (details, examples) from resources.
The purpose is to strengthen your writing and the cause-effect relationships].
** Have pertinent text-wrapped images. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5
TOTAL = 100
Compile your data in either one of these formats: Essay/Report, PPT, Keynote or i-Movie.
… BIBLIOGRAPHY … - MUST have evidence of 3 different resources.
Trans-Saharan Gold-Salt Trade:
1. "History Alive" Textbook, ch. 13, pgs.148-151
2. The “Background” section below.
3. “World's Toughest Jobs: Salt Miner “
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi9bJhRZtKA
Short Video files/links uploaded on the site.
Due date: 12.05.14
BACKGROUND – compiled by D.M.Popa
The kingdom of Ghana flourished in West Africa by 1,000- A.D. This ancient empire developed
in 2 major geographic regions: Savanna and Sahel (area just south of the Sahara. Ghana grew
strong by controlling the gold-salt trade – which existed since the 2nd century B.C.E.
Ghana: Land of Gold - Trade remained infrequent and irregular because of the harsh desert
conditions. Most pack animals—oxen, donkeys, and horses—could not travel very far in the hot, dry
Sahara without rest or water. Then in the third century A.D. Berber nomads began using camels, which
could plod steadily over long distances, covering as much as 60 miles in a day. In addition, it could travel
up to ten days without water, twice as long as most pack animals. With the camel, nomads blazed new
routes across the desert and trade increased.
The trade routes crossed the savanna through the region farmed by the Soninke people. The Soninke
people called their ruler Ghana, or war chief. Muslim traders began to use the word to refer to the
Soninke region. By the 700s, Soninke rulers of the kingdom of Ghana were growing rich from taxing the
goods that traders carried through their territory.
Gold-Salt Trade - The two most important trade items were gold and salt. Gold came from a
forest region south of the savanna between the Niger and Senegal rivers. Miners dug gold from shafts
as deep as 100 feet or sifted it from fast-moving streams. Some sources estimate that until about
1350, at least two-thirds of the world s supply of gold came from West Africa. Although rich in gold,
West Africa's savanna and forests lacked salt, a material essential to human life. The Sahara contained
deposits of salt. In fact, in the Saharan village of Taghaza, workers built their houses from salt blocks
because it was the only material available. Arab and Berber traders crossed the desert with camel
caravans loaded down with salt. They also carried cloth, weapons, and manufactured goods from ports
on the Mediterranean. After a long journey, they reached the market towns of the savanna.
Meanwhile, African traders brought gold north from the forest regions. Merchants met in trading
cities, where they exchanged goods under the watchful eye of the king’s tax collector. In addition to
taxing trade, royal officials made sure that all traders weighed goods fairly and did business according to
law. Royal guards also provided protection from bandits.
Empire of Ghana - In his royal palace, the king stored gold nuggets and slabs of salt (collected
as taxes). Only the king had the right to own gold nuggets, although gold dust freely circulated in the
marketplace. By this means, the king limited the supply of gold and kept its price from falling. Ghana's
African ruler acted as a religious leader, chief judge, and military commander. By the year 800, Ghana
had become an empire. Because Ghana's king controlled trade and commanded a large army, he could
demand taxes and gifts from the chiefs of surrounding lands. As long as the chiefs made their payments,
the king left them in peace to rule their own people.
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