
African Trade Routes in the Middle Ages
Grade 12th Grade · Social Studies · 45 min
What's Included
Learning Objective
I can analyze the impact of trade routes on the economic and cultural development of Africa during the Middle Ages.
Warm-Up Video
CrashCourse · 10:31
Mansa Musa and Islam in Africa: Crash Course World History #16
Guided Notes
3 key concepts
- 1
Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca with a large entourage and vast amounts of gold helped create the European myth of West Africa as a land of El Dorado.
- 2
Islam spread in West Africa through trade routes, with early converts being traders who benefited from religious connections, followed by kings seeking prestige and access to scholars.
- 3
Swahili civilization was a collection of city states linked by language, trade, and religion, with Swahili being a Bantu-based language heavily influenced by Arabic.
Practice Questions
7 questions · Short answer
Exit Ticket
Quick comprehension check
“Explain how trade routes influenced both the economic and cultural development of either the Mali Empire or the Swahili city-states during the Middle Ages. Provide specific examples from the video to support your answer.”
Complete Lesson Package
Get all 3 ready-to-use resources:


