TRADE.

Trade is the legal exchange of good and / or services.

Methods of trade

1. Barter- exchange of goods for goods.

- No money involved.
2. Currency-Money is the medium of exchange.

Disadvantages of Barter

1. Some goods were not easily handled as they were bulky.

2. It was not easy to agree on the value / exchange rate.
3. In case the traders lacked double coincidence it was a problem.
4. Some of the trade goods were not easily or never divisible.
5. Lack of storage value for perishable goods.

Advantages

1. Poor countries without adequate foreign currencies benefits by exchanging what they have
with what they don’t have.
2. Encourages self- reliance in developing countries.
3. Human wants are satisfied.
4. It can help to promote living standards.
5. It benefits where money is non-existent.
6. It avoids wastage as demand and supply tend to equate.
7. It promotes interaction hence good relation, peace and stability.

Advantages of currency.

1. Easily stored as wealth for a long period.

2. Easily divisible in to smaller units.
3. It is lighter to transport currency as compared to goods / It is convenient, since it is not bulky.
4. It can be used to measure the value of goods and services.
5. It is convertible in to electronic devices for payments unlike goods.
6. It is universally accepted.

Disadvantages.

1. It can be easily lost.

2. Fake currencies can come up.
3. Devaluation of the currency.

Characteristics of currency.
1. It should be divisible to allow easy use in small units.
2. It should be acceptable by the society.
3. It should remain stable to give a stable value over years.
4. It should be durable to retain quality

Types/classification of trade

This classification is based on the scale, volume of goods and services involved, distance
covered and merchants involved.

1. Local

- It is conducted within a locality e.g. Country.

Its features.

1. It involves the exchange of goods in the same geographical area.

2. It has few merchants.
3. Variety of goods is limited.
4. It involves the exchange of goods in small volume.

Factors that favored its origin

1. Surplus production.
2. Climate and environmental conditions.
3. Natural calamities.
4. Population increase.

Effects of local trade.

1. Peaceful co-existence among people / communities.

2. Development of urban centers from trading centres.
3. It satisfied the requirements of a locality.
4. New products were made available to the people.
5. It led to improved transport system.

2. Regional trade.

Characteristics of regional trade.

1. It involves more goods.

2. Had more merchants.
3. Was better organized with markets.
4. People specialized in trade as their means of their livelihood.
5. Presence of middlemen in the trade.

 This trade between two regions e.g. long distance trade and Trans-Sahara trade.
 The long distance trade took place between the East coast of Africa and the interior.
 Some of the communities included the Arabs, Swahili, and Mijikenda etc.

Trans-Saharan trade

Factors that favored.

1. Existence of local trade in W. Sudan & among the Berbers which provided the base for trade.
2. Existence of trade routes across the desert made transportation easier.
3. The existence of the camel which provided transport across the desert. (Pack animals)
4. Tuaregs provided guidance to the caravans across the Sahara.
5. Existence of powerful leaders who provided political stability encouraged trade e.g. Mansa
Musa of Mali.
6. Conquest and settlement of Arabs in North Africa led to the increase of trading activities.
7. Existence of trade goods especially gold and salt.
8. Activities between North Africa and Southern Europe and Middle East.
9. Existence of Oasis which provided water and acted as resting area for traders.
10. Demand for commodities both in North and West Africa respectively.
11. Existence of rich and enterprising merchants in N. Africa who provided the needed capital.
12. Agriculture in W. Africa provided a strong economy on which, wider trade was based.

Goods involved.

From the North – Salt, Horses, glass ware, beads, Mirrors, needles, perfumes, spices, dried
fruits, fire arms, daggers and cowrie shells.
From South- Gold, Slaves, kola nuts, feathers, Hides and skins, Ivory, Gum, Dyed clothes and
pepper.

The main items were GOLD and salt.

Why the camel replaced the horse.

1. It is stronger and carries heavier goods.

2. It can travel for several days without water or food.
3. Its broad feet enables it to walk without sinking in the sand.
4. It has a reservoir of food and water in their stomach and hump.

Roles of Tuaregs.

1. They acted as guides to the traders.

2. They provided security for the traders.
3. They provide the traders with basic needs like food.
4. They acted as interpreters / Translators.
5. They maintained the Oasis and water wells.
6. They provided accommodation / shelter.

Trans- Saharan trade

Organization

1. It was between the people from South of the Sahara, mainly Western Sudan and the Arabs
from the North of Africa.
2. The wealthy merchants from the North provided the funds for the caravans.
3. The Caravan leaders assembled the goods that were in demand in Western Sudan / Salt,
clothes Horses guns, and weapons.
4. The caravans collected the basic requirements for the journey.
5. The traders travelled in a convoy / caravans for security.
6. The nomads / Tuaregs guided the caravans through the desert.
7. The guides charged the caravans a minimal fee for the services rendered.
8. Local agents in Western Sudan acted as intermediaries for effective communication.
9. The traders gave gifts / tribute to the rulers in Western Sudan.
10. Goods from Western Sudan included Kola nuts, slaves & gold.
11. The trade was mainly barter type silent.
12. There were three trade routes linking the North and Western Sudan.
13. The Camel was used to transport goods.

Trans-Saharan Trade Routes.

1. Fez-Marrkesh-Wadan-Walata
2. Sajilmasa-Tuat-Gao-Timbuktu
3. Tunisia-Ghadames-Agades-Hausaland
4. Tripoli-Fezzan-Bornu
5. Cairo-Murzuk-Bilma-Kano
6. Sajilmasa-Walata-Taghaza-Andaghost

NB- These routes are classified as Primary/main and Secondary.

Challenges / Problems encountered

1. Long and stressful journey.

2. Dangers in the routes e.g. could be attacked by wild animals and other desert creatures.
3. Extreme weather conditions of the desert, e.g. very hot during the day very cold during the
night.
4. Traders often lost their way in the desert due to frequent shifting of routs.
5. Scarcity of basic needs e.g. water and food.
6. Attacks by hostile desert communities.
7. Many were killed by the frequent sand storms.
8. Disruption of their journey during inter- community wars / Insecurity due to declining and
falling of kingdoms.
9. Language barrier / Lack of common language for transacting trade.
10. Exhaustion of trade goods especially gold.
11. They were robbed by desert people.

Decline

Reasons

1. The main trading goods got exhausted e.g. salt and gold.
2. As the Berbers and Tuaregs abdicated their role, insecurity greatly increased, thus exposing
the caravans to a lot of robbery / Almoravids and Tuaregs invaded the region of Songhai,
thus causing insecurity which discouraged the caravans.
3. When Portugal and Spain invaded Morocco ports along Atlantic and Mediterranean, she
could not access goods, hence the trade was disrupted.
4. The Ottoman Turks invaded North Africa caused many wars which affected the trading
activities.
5. Insecurity and anarchy in the Western Sudan area when it was invaded by Morocco /
Political instability in the region was a threat to caravan.
6. The development and growth of Trans-Atlantic trade / Establishment of commercial ports at
the West African coast rendered caravans trade unpopular as it was slow and risky.
7. Anti- slavery movement started in Britain paved a threat to trade.
8. Resources in the two regions (North and South) came under the control of the Europeans
following their colonization of the areas.
9. When Europeans entered the interior, they stated dealing with the producers directly, thus
rendering the Barbars and Tuaregs useless / Colonization of North and West Africa took over
the resources, thus weakening it.
10. Increased possession of fire arms intensified warfare between trading centres.

Effects of Trans-Sahara Trade.

Negative

1. Increase warfare in the region.

2. Many people in the region were captured as slaves / depopulation of the region.
3. Decline of some kingdoms.
4. Destruction of wildlife due to demand in Ivory.

Positive

1. Improved mode of transport in the region with the introduction of camels and horse.
2. Sharia law was introduced in the region.
3. Islamic and Arabic cultures spread to Western Sudan.
4. Introduction of Arabic architectural designs.
5. Islamic system of education was introduced in the region.
6. Facilitated the spread of Islam in the region of Western Sudan.
7. Led to interaction between the North Africa and Sudan belt.
8. Iron tools were introduced in the region.
9. Stimulated the growth of smithing technology.
10. A class of wealthy merchants emerged as a result of wealth earned from the trade.
11. Growth of strong empires and kingdoms.
12. Trading centres later grew in to urban centres eg Qidar, Lagos, Port Norvo, Elmina,
Komenda, Goree and Dakar.
13. Agriculture was boosted with the introduction of new crops in the region.
How West African Communities benefited from the trade (Trans – Saharan)

1.They were able to acquire new essential commodities e.g. cloth.

2.Commercial centres developed along the trade routes, and this was an economic boost to the
West African economy.
3.Some Africa leaders established strong armies using the wealth and arms from the trade /
Revenue from the trade was used to strengthen the empires.
5.It enhanced local trade.
6.It facilitated the spread of Islam / It led to the introduction of Islamic culture in the region.
7.It opened up West Africa to the outside world, hence establishment of diplomatic relations with
North Africa.
8.It boosted agricultural produce with iron tools acquired through the trade.
9.Use of Sharia law to administer states in West Africa.

How the trans- Saharan trade led to the development of kingdoms in West Africa.

1. It was a source of revenue through imports and export tax paid by traders.
2. Kingdoms acquired firearms, horse and other weapons from North Africa which they used to
establish strong armies to build empires and Kingdoms
3. Islamic Sharia, (Islamic law) which was introduced by the traders was used in administration
of the Kingdoms
4. Islamic religion was used as a unifying factor.
5. It stimulated local trade which was a source of revenue for the state to grow.
6. The traders motivated the kings to acquire the benefits.
7. It enabled the kings to establish diplomatic links with North Africa and other countries for
foreign exchange for wealth.
International trade
It involves different countries either in one continent or further.
Trans-Atlantic trade
- This trade involved Africa (mainly west), Europe and America.
- The people involved included Europeans, African middlemen and chiefs, American
middlemen and plantation owners.
- The specific countries were Portugal, Spain, Holland (Netherlands), Britain and France,
and African-were Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal, While American were the Caribbean
Islands and U.S.A.
Items involved to Africa

1. Clothes
2. Ornaments
3. Alcoholic beverages
4. Utensils
5. Food stuffs
6. Gun and gun powder
7. Metals

NB/ From Africa, we had slaves, tobacco, gold, Ivory, gum, timber, pepper, skins and hides
and beewax.

Factors that favoured the growth of the Trans-Atlantic trade.

1. Africa slaves were stronger and resistant to the tropical diseases and could cope with strain
and stress.
2. Demand for West African goods by Europeans.
3. European expansion to West Africa 1490’s.
4. The introduction of fire arms facilitated the capture of slaves and hence their supply.
5. Increased demand for slaves labour in European countries.
6. Africa chiefs had developed a taste for European goods.
7. African slave labour was cheaper than European laborers and American Indian.
8. Exploitation of minerals and establishment of crop plantation in the Americas.
9. The increased demand of raw materials for the growing industries.
10. The increased rivalry among European powers for control of overseas countries.
11. The lucrative nature of trade.
12. The construction of greater capacity ships.
13. There existed well defined routes.

Ways of obtaining slaves.

1. Raids organized by individuals or chiefs.

2. Warfare and sell of war captives / captives of war.
3. Abuse of power by leaders, thus selling their subjects for self-interests.
4. Through kidnapping / abduction- lonely travelers.
5. Enticement / trickery.
6. Selling off debtors / Panyarring.
7. Criminals or social misfits.

Roles of Africans in the Trans-Atlantic trade.

6. They acted as middlemen between European merchants and interior communities.

7. They acquired / raided for slaves.
8. Rulers sold their own subjects / they were sold as slaves.
9. They marched slaves to the coast.
10. They transported trade items to the coast.

Why African slaves were preferred.

1. They were available in large numbers.

2. They were found to be cheaper to use than European laborers and American Indians.
3. African slaves were thought to be immune to both European and tropical diseases.
4. They appeared stronger and therefore suitable for manual work.

Organization of the trade.

1. It operated along three triangular routes, namely Europe, West Africa and Americas.
2. The Europeans brought manufactured goods e.g. clothes to W. Africa and exchanged with
slaves.
3. Money to finance the trade came from Europe.
4. Slaves were captured in the interior, yoked together and marched to the coasts in caravans.
5. Slaves were obtained through raiding.
6. Slaves were sold at particular centres along the W. African coast like Lagos.
7. They were stored in “warehouses” / Baraccoons while waiting to be transported.
8. The slaves were tightly packed in ships and were shipped across the Atlantic under pathetic
conditions which made many to die before reaching their destination.
9. It was a barter form of trade.
10. The prices depended on sex, size and age.
11. In the Americas, the slaves were sold through auctioning.
12. Once they had been bought, they were branded with the mark of their purchasers then taken
to plantations and other places
13. Products from the plantations / raw materials were then exported to European industries.

Reasons for its decline

1. Development of industrial revolution in European shifted demand for slaves to demand for
agricultural produce.
2. Attainment of independence by U.S.A left Britain without colonies where she could take
slaves to work / Closure of slave market in America.
3. Rise in humanitarians e.g. missionaries in Britain forced her to abandon slave trade and
slavery / Philanthropists.
4. The development of legitimate trade which was more profitable and less costly.
5. Britain abolished slave trade and influenced other countries in European to stop slave trade
and slavery by signing treaties.
6. Leading economists argued that free people were more productive than slaves. Eg. Adam
Smith.
7. French revolution in 1789 and spread of its ideas of liberty.

Others

8. Results of the American civil war of 1865 which was worn by those opposed to slavery.
9. Use of machines on farms rendered slaves unnecessary.
10. Resistance by Africans in W. Africa and the new world made the Europeans to abandon
slave trade.
11. Need to retain Africans in their homeland to produce raw materials for the developing
industries.

Impact of the trade

Political

1. Warfare was revolutionized by the importation of firearms.

2. Growth and decline of some empires and Kingdoms
3. Many Africa communities were left weak and unable to resist the scramble and partition of
Africa which followed.
4. Led to founding of Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Social

1. Some African cultures spread to USA.

2. Depopulation as many people were shipped away as slaves and others died.
3. Forced emigration to the Americas / Mullato population emerged in West Africa.
4. Many slaves died before and after reaching Americas.
5. Led to the changes in social roles / separation of families.
6. The trade led to the origin of Negros (Black America)
7. It exposed West Africa to many types of diseases came up following the conditions under
which the slaves were captured and kept.
8. It also led to the emergence of a class of wealthy merchants who accumulated a lot of wealth
from the trade.
9. Some of the trading centres later grew in to urban centres.
10. It brought about fear and insecurity among the communities.

Economic

1. Decline of the economic and agricultural development in Africa.

2. Britain expanded its industry and other European countries.
3. Decline of the Trans- Saharan trade as many traders found the Trans-Atlantic trade more
profitable.
4. Property was destroyed as communities raided each other for trade items.
5. Some Africa leaders accumulated wealth and hence a class of rich merchants developed.
6. Expansion of plantations agriculture in USA as there was cheap labour by the slaves.

QUESTIONS

1. Define the term trade

2 explain the methods of trade
3 state the factors that facilitated the exchange of goods between various communities
4 state the methods of trade
5 explain the advantages and disadvantages of barter trade
6 with examples ,explain 3 types of trade
7 state the characteristics of local and regional trade
8 Explain the factors that contributed to the development of trans Saharan trade
9 identify the goods in the trans Saharan trade
10 explain the effects of trans Saharan trade
11. State the factors that contributed to the development of the trans Atlantic trade
12 Give reasons why the African slaves were preferred during the trans Atlantic trade
13. Outline roles played by middlemen during the trans Atlantic trade
14 explained the effects of the trans Atlantic trade
15 Give the methods used to acquire slaves from West Africa during the trans Atlantic .
16 explain the factors that led to the decline of the Trans Atlantic trade.