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African Trade
From Critical Thinking Internet Activities: Ancient and Medieval History.
© Curriculum Adventures.
| National History Standards: World History
Era 4 - Expanding Zones of Exchange and Encounter, 300 C.E.-1000 C.E.
Standard 18: Understands major global trends from 300 to 1000 C.E. |
Overview
This activity is a brief introduction to the ancient African trade routes and a very basic overview of supply and demand. It's intended to be followed by a unit on ancient West Africa, Islam in Africa, and/or African trade. Students will view a map and read about the north African trade routes. They'll also read a page about supply and demand and will relate this basic economic concept to African trade, explaining why north and west Africans would have been eager to trade with each other. It will probably be helpful to discuss the concepts of supply and demand and to do section 3 as a class.
Discussion Questions
Primary Question: Why would merchants have wanted to trade with each other over the vast Sahara Desert?
Additional Questions:
- How do the concepts of supply and demand relate to the African trade routes?
- Was the Sahara a relatively easy or difficult landscape over which to travel? Would you like to visit the Sahara? Why or why not?
Objectives and Assessment Rubric
In the blank spaces after each objective, assess each student on a scale of 1 to 5 as indicated below.
Students will:
- Describe the landscape and climate of the Sahara and explain why they think people would have undertaken this difficult journey. _____
- Read about supply and demand and list products for which there have different levels of supply and demand. _____
- Take the positions of merchants from north and west Africa, and explain why each would have been eager to engage in trans-Sahara trade. _____
1 Minimal performance or effort
2 Needs improvement, but showed some effort
3 Average performance and/or effort for grade level
4 Good performance and/or effort; above average for grade level
5 Exemplary performance and effort
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