XVIᵉ siècle
Sahara
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Taghaza was a Saharan salt-mining centre whose revenues and caravan trade became the focus of rivalry between Morocco and Songhay in the late sixteenth century. Moroccan forces seized the deserted mine in 1586, after its occupants had fled following a warning. Songhay then redirected trade toward Taodeni, while Ahmad al-Mansur sought to restore access to Taghaza’s revenue through political and military pressure.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Taghaza occupied a strategic position on the central Saharan route linking Morocco with Songhay and the wider Sudan. Its importance lay in the extraction and exchange of salt, a commodity whose caravan traffic generated revenue for the authorities controlling the mine. For Ahmad al-Mansur, control of Taghaza formed part of a broader attempt to dominate Saharan trade.
In 1586 Morocco sent a force of two hundred musketeers to seize Taghaza. The soldiers found the mine deserted because its occupants had been warned in time and had escaped. Acting on the advice of Tuareg salt traders, Askiya al-Hajj of Songhay officially forbade commerce with Taghaza, forcing the Tuareg to search for alternative sources.
The traders opened the mines of Taodeni, and the Moroccan commander returned to Marrakesh without the expected revenue. Al-Mansur reacted angrily and placed pressure on the Songhay ruler to lift the ban. In January 1590 he proposed a toll of one mithqal on every camel arriving at Taghaza, claiming that the proceeds would support jihad and provisions for troops.
XVIᵉ siècle
Sahara
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Taghaza was a Saharan salt-mining centre whose revenues and caravan trade became the focus of rivalry between Morocco and Songhay in the late sixteenth century. Moroccan forces seized the deserted mine in 1586, after its occupants had fled following a warning. Songhay then redirected trade toward Taodeni, while Ahmad al-Mansur sought to restore access to Taghaza’s revenue through political and military pressure.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Taghaza occupied a strategic position on the central Saharan route linking Morocco with Songhay and the wider Sudan. Its importance lay in the extraction and exchange of salt, a commodity whose caravan traffic generated revenue for the authorities controlling the mine. For Ahmad al-Mansur, control of Taghaza formed part of a broader attempt to dominate Saharan trade.
In 1586 Morocco sent a force of two hundred musketeers to seize Taghaza. The soldiers found the mine deserted because its occupants had been warned in time and had escaped. Acting on the advice of Tuareg salt traders, Askiya al-Hajj of Songhay officially forbade commerce with Taghaza, forcing the Tuareg to search for alternative sources.
The traders opened the mines of Taodeni, and the Moroccan commander returned to Marrakesh without the expected revenue. Al-Mansur reacted angrily and placed pressure on the Songhay ruler to lift the ban. In January 1590 he proposed a toll of one mithqal on every camel arriving at Taghaza, claiming that the proceeds would support jihad and provisions for troops.
Continuer le voyage
D’autres chemins liés à cette histoire.