The Salt Roads That Built Empires

Trade Routes That Changed Human History Forever — Fexingo History · Oct 7, 2026 · 13m · transcript

While we often focus on the luxury goods of the Silk Road or the spices of the Indian Ocean, this episode uncovers the brutal, essential trade in salt that underpinned ancient economies. We explore how sodium chloride moved from mines like Taghaza and Taoudenni across the Sahara to feed populations and preserve food in North Africa. The conversation details the role of the Tuareg nomads as both guardians and exploiters of these routes, and examines how salt’s value rivaled gold in places like Mali. We look at specific caravans, the logistics of camel transport, and the geopolitical tension…