7th century – 10th century
Western Sahara and southern Maghrib
The Sijilmasa–Awdaghust route was the principal trans-Saharan commercial corridor linking the western Maghrib with the gold-producing regions of Bilad al-Sudan. It connected Awdaghust with Sijilmasa and extended through Fez, Tangier, Cordoba, Tlemcen, Tiaret, Kairouan, and routes toward the east. The corridor supported high-value trade and financial transactions from the eighth century onward.
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The Story
Trade between the Maghrib and regions south of the Sahara had existed since early Antiquity, but the passage describes a major expansion from the eighth century onward. The principal route linked Awdaghust to Sijilmasa, which served as a distribution centre for gold from Bilad al-Sudan. The scale of commerce is illustrated by a cheque for 42,000 dinars issued to an Awdaghust merchant by a colleague from Sijilmasa.
Sijilmasa functioned as the hub of a broad network. Routes extended toward Fez, Tangier, and Cordoba; toward Tlemcen and Tiaret; and toward Kairouan and the eastern Maghrib. From these centres, trade continued toward Europe through Sicily and Italy, across the Iberian Peninsula, or along the maritime island route past Sardinia and Corsica to Provence.
The route carried gold and other goods while connecting merchants, political authorities, and diplomatic missions. The merchant Muhammad b. Arafa later served as an ambassador bearing a valuable gift to the King of the Sudan, demonstrating how commercial wealth could support political influence and long-distance diplomacy.
7th century – 10th century
Western Sahara and southern Maghrib
The Sijilmasa–Awdaghust route was the principal trans-Saharan commercial corridor linking the western Maghrib with the gold-producing regions of Bilad al-Sudan. It connected Awdaghust with Sijilmasa and extended through Fez, Tangier, Cordoba, Tlemcen, Tiaret, Kairouan, and routes toward the east. The corridor supported high-value trade and financial transactions from the eighth century onward.
Continue exploring
The Story
Trade between the Maghrib and regions south of the Sahara had existed since early Antiquity, but the passage describes a major expansion from the eighth century onward. The principal route linked Awdaghust to Sijilmasa, which served as a distribution centre for gold from Bilad al-Sudan. The scale of commerce is illustrated by a cheque for 42,000 dinars issued to an Awdaghust merchant by a colleague from Sijilmasa.
Sijilmasa functioned as the hub of a broad network. Routes extended toward Fez, Tangier, and Cordoba; toward Tlemcen and Tiaret; and toward Kairouan and the eastern Maghrib. From these centres, trade continued toward Europe through Sicily and Italy, across the Iberian Peninsula, or along the maritime island route past Sardinia and Corsica to Provence.
The route carried gold and other goods while connecting merchants, political authorities, and diplomatic missions. The merchant Muhammad b. Arafa later served as an ambassador bearing a valuable gift to the King of the Sudan, demonstrating how commercial wealth could support political influence and long-distance diplomacy.
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Other paths related to this story.