Gold, Salt and the Kingdoms of the Sahel · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.
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Gold, Salt and the Desert Crossing

History · World History · ages 12-13
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Gold travelled north. What travelled south in return?

    • Salt
    • More gold
    • Camels

  2. Which kingdoms grew rich on the desert trade, in order?

    • Rome, then Paris, then London
    • Ghana, then Mali, then Songhai
    • Egypt, then Persia, then China

  3. A caravan crossing the Sahara needed camels, guides, and wells.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Where was the salt cut, and how did it leave the desert?

    • Dug in southern forests and floated north on rivers
    • Cut in desert mines such as Taghaza and carried south on camels
    • Made in coastal towns and sent south by sea

  5. Why did southern buyers pay gold for salt?

    • Because coins in the south were made of salt
    • Because salt was only used to decorate houses
    • Because southern lands had almost no salt of their own

  6. Holding the wells mattered more than holding the sand.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. No salt reaches the southern market this year, though mines hold plenty. What likely happened?

    • Trouble on the road or at the wells broke the crossing
    • The desert mines ran dry forever
    • People forgot how salt tastes

  8. A chief taxes every grain of sand but leaves the wells free. Will he grow rich?

    • Yes, because sand covers everything
    • Yes, because camels eat sand
    • No, because caravans must stop at wells, not sand
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Gold, Salt and the Desert Crossing W1-mt_EUkNLax9Yz-s1

  1. Salt · Desert salt headed south while southern gold headed north.
  2. Ghana, then Mali, then Songhai · Ghana rose first, then Mali, then Songhai, each taxing the crossing.
  3. True · Camels carry loads, guides know the way, and wells give water.
  4. Cut in desert mines such as Taghaza and carried south on camels · Salt lay in the desert, so slabs left the mines on camels for the south.
  5. Because southern lands had almost no salt of their own · The south lacked salt, and people and food need it, so buyers paid well.
  6. True · No caravan can skip water, so wells gave control of the whole route.
  7. Trouble on the road or at the wells broke the crossing · Salt stays in the mines until caravans can cross, so a break in the road stops supply.
  8. No, because caravans must stop at wells, not sand · Power sits at the wells, since every caravan must drink.
Worksheet · LightMySky