13th century – 16th century
Egypt, Mediterranean coast, and Maghrib
Egypt–Maghrib commerce connected Cairo and Egypt with western North Africa through maritime routes and a coastal caravan corridor. Maghribi exports included oil, woollen cloth, coral, hides, salt fish, black slaves, and sometimes grain; Egyptian exports included glass, metalware, weapons, spices, perfumes, silk, linen, cotton cloth, and grain. The commerce peaked at the beginning of the fifteenth century.
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The Story
Commercial exchange between Egypt and the Maghrib continued even after the Maghrib had achieved political and cultural autonomy. Cairo attracted Western scholars and pilgrims, while merchants moved goods in both directions. The trade was sustained by the shared economic and religious world of Muslim North Africa rather than by political unity.
Maghribi merchants exported oil, woollen cloth, coral, hides, salt fish, black slaves, and, during periods of low Nile floods, grain. Egyptian merchants sent westward glass and metal wares, weapons, spices, perfumes, silk, linen, cotton cloth, and grain. The range of goods reveals a complementary exchange between agricultural, pastoral, maritime, artisanal, and luxury economies.
The commerce reached its peak at the beginning of the fifteenth century. It moved partly by sea, but the threat of European pirates encouraged traders to prefer a caravan route along the coast. This continuing interchange helped preserve the fundamental cultural unity of Muslim North Africa despite the separate political paths followed by Egypt and the Maghribi dynasties.
13th century – 16th century
Egypt, Mediterranean coast, and Maghrib
Egypt–Maghrib commerce connected Cairo and Egypt with western North Africa through maritime routes and a coastal caravan corridor. Maghribi exports included oil, woollen cloth, coral, hides, salt fish, black slaves, and sometimes grain; Egyptian exports included glass, metalware, weapons, spices, perfumes, silk, linen, cotton cloth, and grain. The commerce peaked at the beginning of the fifteenth century.
Continue exploring
The Story
Commercial exchange between Egypt and the Maghrib continued even after the Maghrib had achieved political and cultural autonomy. Cairo attracted Western scholars and pilgrims, while merchants moved goods in both directions. The trade was sustained by the shared economic and religious world of Muslim North Africa rather than by political unity.
Maghribi merchants exported oil, woollen cloth, coral, hides, salt fish, black slaves, and, during periods of low Nile floods, grain. Egyptian merchants sent westward glass and metal wares, weapons, spices, perfumes, silk, linen, cotton cloth, and grain. The range of goods reveals a complementary exchange between agricultural, pastoral, maritime, artisanal, and luxury economies.
The commerce reached its peak at the beginning of the fifteenth century. It moved partly by sea, but the threat of European pirates encouraged traders to prefer a caravan route along the coast. This continuing interchange helped preserve the fundamental cultural unity of Muslim North Africa despite the separate political paths followed by Egypt and the Maghribi dynasties.
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Other paths related to this story.