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Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoIt was used to preserve food and replenish the salt in your sweat.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoWest africans used salt for trading for gold to buy what they need from other africans, or to trade for gold still and then trade that gold for something else.
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Why was salt so valuable?
People in deserts had no way to preserve their food as there was no electricity for freezers or refrigerators to work and no ice available. They preserved much of their meat by drying it after salting it down well. This prevented it from spoiling or becoming infested with maggots.
How were West Africa's resources related to West Africa's physical geography?
Ghana was located between two areas that wanted to trade-North Africa and the southern forests of West Africa. Ghana's treasury was enriched as they taxed traders heavily. The hot climate influenced more use of salt, which thy obtained by trading.
Why are the water systems of west Africa so important to the people region?
What are some natural resources in west Africa
Why was salt and gold so powerful to the kingdoms of Africa?
Because back then in Africa salt was very scarce and one pound of gold would be worth one pound of salt and they traded salt for gold.
Why was salt so valuable in Africa?
One of the biggest needs for salt was to preserve food, particularly meat. Salt was hard to come by in West Africa, but they were able to pan for gold. In North Africa, it was just the opposite. It was easy for them to mine salt, but not gold. Eventually trade routes were set up and West African people regularly traded their gold for salt from the North.
Why was salt so valuable?
People in deserts had no way to preserve their food as there was no electricity for freezers or refrigerators to work and no ice available. They preserved much of their meat by drying it after salting it down well. This prevented it from spoiling or becoming infested with maggots.
Why did the West Africa trade gold into salt?
Because, salt was needed to flavor food, preserve meat, used for medical purposes, and to keep the body healthy. But in West Africa, salt was a rare. So, West Africans traded their gold for salt. (Salt was so valuable, it was worth its weight in gold. 1 pound of salt = 1 pound of gold.)
How were West Africa's resources related to West Africa's physical geography?
Ghana was located between two areas that wanted to trade-North Africa and the southern forests of West Africa. Ghana's treasury was enriched as they taxed traders heavily. The hot climate influenced more use of salt, which thy obtained by trading.
What was once so valuable it was traded for gold?
SALT.
What does your worth your weight in salt mean?
In the middle ages salt was very rare and valuable, so a person "worth their weight" was a person who was needed and valuable.
What is West Africa's capital name?
West Africa is not a country, so it does not have a capital.
How was west Africa effected by the Atlantic slave trade?
West Africa lost all of it's strong, smart, and valuable people to the slave trade. At first, only the weak and scrawny people were traded to the Portuguese, but then the Portuguese would not buy the weaker slaves. So stronger and smarter people were traded instead.
Why are the water systems of west Africa so important to the people region?
What are some natural resources in west Africa
Why was salt and gold so powerful to the kingdoms of Africa?
Because back then in Africa salt was very scarce and one pound of gold would be worth one pound of salt and they traded salt for gold.
Why was Europe so interested in Africa during the industrial revolution?
Africa has valuable natural resources for which Europe has many uses.
Why was salt so valuable in Africa?
One of the biggest needs for salt was to preserve food, particularly meat. Salt was hard to come by in West Africa, but they were able to pan for gold. In North Africa, it was just the opposite. It was easy for them to mine salt, but not gold. Eventually trade routes were set up and West African people regularly traded their gold for salt from the North.
What was West African tradition before slave trade?
it was very wealthy from its massive gold mines, and it traded copper and salt. thats where it got its money from. also, Mali, an empire in west africa, made a huge contribution to the culture of west africa. so you should google more about Mali in 1600s. but thats all i know sorry :)
