13th century – 16th century
Mali, central Sudan, Sahara, and Egypt
Mali–Egyptian commercial contacts expanded during the Mamluk period through pilgrimage, scholarship, caravan trade, and gold exchange. Egyptian merchants reached Sudanese markets where textiles were highly valued, while large caravans traveled between Egypt and Mali. Gold from Bambuk and Bure became especially important to Egypt, although European competition later diverted much of the trade toward Europe.
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The Story
Direct relations between Egypt and the central and western Sudan remained limited for centuries after the abandonment of the route through the Egyptian oases, Kufra, Kawar, and Asben to Ghana. During the late eleventh and following two centuries, rulers of Kanem and Mali visited Egypt on pilgrimage, but Cairo showed only modest interest. Religious contacts developed more steadily, including travel by Maliki scholars to Kanem and the foundation of a hostel for Kanemi students in Fustat during the mid-thirteenth century.
Commercial relations improved from the beginning of the fourteenth century as Egypt’s interest in the Sudan increased. The region offered valuable markets and, above all, gold. After the exhaustion of Nubian mines at al-‘Allaqi, gold from Bambuk and Bure reached Egypt in growing quantities, entered Mamluk coinage, and helped make the Sudan a major economic partner.
Sudanese markets also absorbed Egyptian manufactured goods. Textiles were consistently the leading Egyptian export; the inhabitants of Walata reportedly wore fine Egyptian fabrics, while Takedda’s copper-mining population depended on trade with Egypt. Large caravans, said to number as many as 12,000 camels annually on the Egypt–Mali connection, illustrate the scale attributed to this trans-Saharan commerce.
The route’s prosperity later declined. During the fifteenth century, Italian merchants, especially Genoese, and Catalan traders redirected western Sudanese gold toward Europe through their North African commerce. Portuguese factories along the West African coast contributed further to the reduction of gold exports to Egypt before the end of the Mamluk dynasty.
13th century – 16th century
Mali, central Sudan, Sahara, and Egypt
Mali–Egyptian commercial contacts expanded during the Mamluk period through pilgrimage, scholarship, caravan trade, and gold exchange. Egyptian merchants reached Sudanese markets where textiles were highly valued, while large caravans traveled between Egypt and Mali. Gold from Bambuk and Bure became especially important to Egypt, although European competition later diverted much of the trade toward Europe.
Continue exploring
The Story
Direct relations between Egypt and the central and western Sudan remained limited for centuries after the abandonment of the route through the Egyptian oases, Kufra, Kawar, and Asben to Ghana. During the late eleventh and following two centuries, rulers of Kanem and Mali visited Egypt on pilgrimage, but Cairo showed only modest interest. Religious contacts developed more steadily, including travel by Maliki scholars to Kanem and the foundation of a hostel for Kanemi students in Fustat during the mid-thirteenth century.
Commercial relations improved from the beginning of the fourteenth century as Egypt’s interest in the Sudan increased. The region offered valuable markets and, above all, gold. After the exhaustion of Nubian mines at al-‘Allaqi, gold from Bambuk and Bure reached Egypt in growing quantities, entered Mamluk coinage, and helped make the Sudan a major economic partner.
Sudanese markets also absorbed Egyptian manufactured goods. Textiles were consistently the leading Egyptian export; the inhabitants of Walata reportedly wore fine Egyptian fabrics, while Takedda’s copper-mining population depended on trade with Egypt. Large caravans, said to number as many as 12,000 camels annually on the Egypt–Mali connection, illustrate the scale attributed to this trans-Saharan commerce.
The route’s prosperity later declined. During the fifteenth century, Italian merchants, especially Genoese, and Catalan traders redirected western Sudanese gold toward Europe through their North African commerce. Portuguese factories along the West African coast contributed further to the reduction of gold exports to Egypt before the end of the Mamluk dynasty.
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