The Salt Trade That Built Songhai

Salt was more valuable than gold in the medieval Sahel, and the Songhai Empire's control of the Taghaza salt mines was the economic engine that powered its rise. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the brutal conditions of the salt caravans, the political maneuvering to secure the mines from Tuareg and Moroccan rivals, and how the salt trade connected Songhai to markets as far as the Mediterranean. They discuss Askia Muhammad's military campaign to seize Taghaza, the role of salt in the trans-Saharan economy, and the environmental challenges of mining in the desert. Along the way, they touch on the legendary salt caravan routes, the use of salt as currency, and the eventual decline of Songhai's monopoly. This episode dives deep into the gritty logistics and high-stakes politics behind one of history's most underappreciated commodities. No prior knowledge of Songhai is required, but context from earlier episodes helps. #SaltTrade #Taghaza #SonghaiEmpire #AskiaMuhammad #TransSaharanTrade #Sahel #WestAfrica #NigerRiver #Timbuktu #Gao #Tuareg #Morocco #MedievalTrade #SaltMines #EconomicHistory #FexingoHistory #Podcast #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo