WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Gold and salt trade via the Sahara Desert has been going on for many centuries. Gold from Timbuktu, a city in the modern-day West African country of Mali, and other West African states was traded north to the Mediterranean in exchange for luxury goods and, ultimately, salt from the desert.

Detailed explanation-2: -Did you know? These gold weights come from the Akan region, a part of West Africa which now lies across Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Historically, the area contained substantial gold deposits which led to the region being known as the ‘Gold Coast’ by European traders.

Detailed explanation-3: -WEST AFRICA She was a centre of gold trade when first discovered by the Por-tuguese in 1471, and was known as Gold Coast. Within a few years Spaniards, English, and French were actively disputing the Portuguese claims to a monopoly of trade on the Gold Coast.

Detailed explanation-4: -The most common exchange was salt for gold dust that came from the mines of southern West Africa. Indeed, salt was such a precious commodity that it was quite literally worth its weight in gold in some parts of West Africa.

Detailed explanation-5: -The [inhabitants of the Western Sudan] use salt for currency as gold and silver are used. They cut it into pieces and use it for their transactions.