Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The Salt and Gold Trade of West Africa
Did you know that salt was literally worth its weight in gold in ancient West Africa?
Salt became a precious commodity in West Africa, and the trade of salt was a significant and quite lucrative business. Salt was such an important commodity that it was often traded for gold dust that came from the southern West African mines, and so was quite literally worth its weight in gold.
The salt was traded by camel caravans and by boat, moving through trade centers like Koumbi Salé and Timbuktu, and then even further south to be traded for ivory, hides, copper, cereals, and iron.
Salt was such a money-spinner that, quite literally, whoever had control of the salt trade also had control of the gold trade, with both resources serving as the main economic pillars of the various West African empires.
#africa #blackhistorymonth #bhm #salt #gold #trade #history #WorldHistory
The Salt and Gold Trade of West Africa
Did you know that salt was literally worth its weight in gold in ancient West Africa?
Salt became a precious commodity in West Africa, and the trade of salt was a significant and quite lucrative business. Salt was such an important commodity that it was often traded for gold dust that came from the southern West African mines, and so was quite literally worth its weight in gold.
The salt was traded by camel caravans and by boat, moving through trade centers like Koumbi Salé and Timbuktu, and then even further south to be traded for ivory, hides, copper, cereals, and iron.
Salt was such a money-spinner that, quite literally, whoever had control of the salt trade also had control of the gold trade, with both resources serving as the main economic pillars of the various West African empires.
#africa #blackhistorymonth #bhm #salt #gold #trade #history #WorldHistory
