The Sand Roads: Salt, Gold, and the Empire of Mali

Trade Routes That Changed Human History Forever — Fexingo History · Apr 25, 2026 · 6m

In this episode of Trade Routes That Changed Human History Forever, Lucas and Luna turn their gaze westward to the trans-Saharan trade routes — the Sand Roads — that connected North Africa to West Africa for centuries. They explore how salt from the Sahara was traded for gold from the south, fueling the rise of empires like Ghana and Mali. Lucas tells the story of Mansa Musa's famous pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, which put Mali on the map and flooded Cairo with gold. They discuss the role of camel caravans, the spread of Islam, and the legendary city of Timbuktu as a center of learning…