zachie+poo

The many kingdoms in West Africa made very good trading partners. They each had something the other wanted. The north had salt. The south had gold. For this reason Africa became prosperous with salt and helped bring trade to Africa. Camels were important because they were able to go long periods of time without water so this made it possible to cross the Vast and blistering dessert of the Sahara. This helped with trade because no man could survive in the dessert for all those days without water. The civilizations in ancient West Africa were all based on trade, so West African leaders were more of businesses men the fighters. Caravans from North Africa crossed the Sahara beginning in the seventh century of the Common Era. Gold from West Africa was exchanged for salt. Salt was used as a flavoring, to preserve food and to retain moisture in people The Berbers were the first people to cross the Sahara desert. When the y crossed the used camels because the dessert was too large. When they got to where they planned to go the traded and spread Islam