Songhai's Salt Trade: The White Gold of Taghaza

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the salt trade that underpinned the Songhai Empire's economy. They discuss the treacherous salt mines of Taghaza, where slaves and free laborers extracted slabs of salt under brutal conditions, and how this 'white gold' was traded pound for pound with gold from the south. The conversation covers the organization of the trade by Askia Muhammad Toure, who ensured that Taghaza's salt flowed to Timbuktu and beyond, fueling the empire's prosperity. They also touch on the role of the fari-mondio, the imperial treasurer, and the impact of the Saadian invasion on the salt routes. References to the Tarikh al-Sudan and Leo Africanus provide historical texture. This episode offers a fresh look at a commodity that was as valuable as gold in the Sahel. #SonghaiEmpire #Taghaza #SaltTrade #Sahel #AskiaMuhammad #Timbuktu #Gao #LeoAfricanus #TarikhAlSudan #FariMondio #WestAfrica #NigerRiver #GoldSaltTrade #MaliEmpire #Saadian #TransSaharanTrade #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo