The Camel Trains of Mali: Salt and Gold
The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the salt routes that powered the Mali Empire, following the caravans from the Sahara's Taghaza mines to the market cities of Timbuktu and Djenne. They explore how salt, not gold, was the true currency of the Sahel, and how the Wangara traders kept the sources of gold a closely guarded secret. Along the way, they meet Ibn Battuta's caravan companions, the Tuareg guides, and the donkeys that carried the salt slabs across the desert. The episode also touches on the environmental realities of the salt trade, the social hierarchies it created, and the networks of exchange that connected Mali to North Africa and beyond. #SaltTrade #Taghaza #Timbuktu #Djenne #MaliEmpire #IbnBattuta #Wangara #Tuareg #Sahara #GoldSaltExchange #WestAfrica #MedievalTrade #CamelCaravan #Sahel #MansaMusa #History #FexingoHistory #TradeRoutes Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
