VIIᵉ siècle – XVIᵉ siècle
Western Sahara and the western Sudan
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
A network of caravan routes crossing the western Sahara between North African commercial centres and the Sudan. The routes passed through deserts with long waterless stages, wells, watering places, and salt mines, while linking Awdaghust, Taghāza, Walata, Ghana, and other markets. Their operation depended on guides, scouts, seasonal timing, camels, and cooperation between settled communities and nomadic groups such as the Massūfa and Sanhāja.
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Le récit
Western Saharan commerce depended on several caravan corridors whose conditions varied sharply. One route crossed the desert of Waran, where travellers encountered shifting dunes and no water before reaching a sweet-water spring about halfway across; after Tagant, watering places appeared every one, two, or three days. Another route from Wādī Darʿa to Ghana crossed the great desert, al-Majāba al-Kubrā, for eight days without water before reaching easier stages.
These routes traversed the lands of the nomadic Sanhāja, especially the Lamtūna. One corridor, known as Ṭarīq Lamtūna, was used by the Almoravids in their north–south military movements. The principal routes also connected the salt mine of Taghāza with Sijilmāsa, Ghana, and other countries of the Sudan. Taghāza later became the principal Saharan highway, despite the greater difficulty of its waterless stages.
Caravan movement required careful preparation and local assistance. Ibn Baṭṭūṭa’s caravan filled its containers at Taghāza for the ten-day journey to Tasarahla, identified with Bir al-Ksaib, and then depended on help from Walata. A Massūfa scout warned Walata of the approaching caravan, while people from the town carried water four days into the desert to meet travellers. Caravans crossed after the rainy season, loaded camels at dusk, rested during the day, and travelled again after afternoon prayer and into the night.
VIIᵉ siècle – XVIᵉ siècle
Western Sahara and the western Sudan
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
A network of caravan routes crossing the western Sahara between North African commercial centres and the Sudan. The routes passed through deserts with long waterless stages, wells, watering places, and salt mines, while linking Awdaghust, Taghāza, Walata, Ghana, and other markets. Their operation depended on guides, scouts, seasonal timing, camels, and cooperation between settled communities and nomadic groups such as the Massūfa and Sanhāja.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Western Saharan commerce depended on several caravan corridors whose conditions varied sharply. One route crossed the desert of Waran, where travellers encountered shifting dunes and no water before reaching a sweet-water spring about halfway across; after Tagant, watering places appeared every one, two, or three days. Another route from Wādī Darʿa to Ghana crossed the great desert, al-Majāba al-Kubrā, for eight days without water before reaching easier stages.
These routes traversed the lands of the nomadic Sanhāja, especially the Lamtūna. One corridor, known as Ṭarīq Lamtūna, was used by the Almoravids in their north–south military movements. The principal routes also connected the salt mine of Taghāza with Sijilmāsa, Ghana, and other countries of the Sudan. Taghāza later became the principal Saharan highway, despite the greater difficulty of its waterless stages.
Caravan movement required careful preparation and local assistance. Ibn Baṭṭūṭa’s caravan filled its containers at Taghāza for the ten-day journey to Tasarahla, identified with Bir al-Ksaib, and then depended on help from Walata. A Massūfa scout warned Walata of the approaching caravan, while people from the town carried water four days into the desert to meet travellers. Caravans crossed after the rainy season, loaded camels at dusk, rested during the day, and travelled again after afternoon prayer and into the night.
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