Ghana

West African Kingdom

Wangarans-gold

Taghaza-salt

Kingdoms of GhanaKingdoms of Ghana

– Trade was conducted between North African traders & Wangaran gold miners

– Traders & miners are competing in the game as individuals.

– The “winner” will be the North African trader who ends up with the most gold tokens and the Wangaran with the most salt tokens

North African Success for North African Success for trade…trade…

• Travel to Wangara

• Make a trade offer

• Accept trade offer or make a counter offer

• Take salt tokens

Travel to WangaraTravel to Wangara

• North African traders crawl across the Sahara Desert

• When you reach Ghana, give one gold token to the Ghana official & then walk to Wangara and find a gold miner with whom to trade

• When you reach Wangara, the Wangaran will turn their back on you

Making the offer…Making the offer…

• The North African trader places 1 or more salt tokens on the paper behing the Wangaran’s back.

• The North African then turns their back & claps.

• The Wangaran turns around, examines the offer & places 1 or more gold tokens next to the salt token. They will then turn and clap.

• The North African takes the gold tokens, leaves the salt token and claps and leaves.

• The Wangaran picks up the salt token.

Making a counteroffer…Making a counteroffer…

• If the North African trader or the Wangaran gold miner is unhappy with the offer made by the other, they make a counter offer.– North African trader can leave the gold and salt

if you are not satisfied with the offer.– Wangaran can add more tokens or leave the

same number of tokens– The North African can look at the counteroffer

and if not satisfied, make a counteroffer or leave the area.

What connections can we What connections can we make?make?

1. North African trader crawling across the desert…

2. North African payment of gold to Ghana Official…

3. North African and the Wangaran turning their backs…

1. represents the difficulty of trans-Saharan trade.

2. represents the tax (tribute) Ghana charged for goods coming in and going out of Ghana.

3. Represents the system of silent bartering.

What about those What about those counteroffers?counteroffers?

• We showed only one counteroffer per trade, but in reality the silent barter actually continued for longer periods, sometimes days!

Who had the gold?Who had the gold?

Wangaran’s

Why do we need salt?Why do we need salt?

• Preservative• Hydration• Seasoning

Who has the salt?Who has the salt?

Tahazan’s

Sahara Salt MinesSahara Salt Mines