Explain what caravans were like along the silk road and trans-saharan trade route 1200-1450?

Caravans along the Silk Road and Trans-Saharan trade route from 1200-1450 were complex and diverse, reflecting the varied cultures and environments along these routes.

1. Silk Road Caravans: The Silk Road was a network of trade routes connecting China and the Far East with the Middle East and Europe. Caravans on the Silk Road were often made up of camels, as they were well-suited to the harsh desert conditions. These caravans would carry goods such as silk, spices, tea, and porcelain from China to the West, and gold, silver, and wool from the West to China. Caravans would often travel in groups for safety, as the Silk Road was fraught with bandits. They would stop at caravanserais, or roadside inns, along the way to rest and resupply.

2. Trans-Saharan Trade Route Caravans: The Trans-Saharan trade route connected North Africa with sub-Saharan Africa. Caravans on this route were typically made up of dromedary camels, which were well-adapted to the desert conditions. These caravans would carry goods such as gold, ivory, and slaves from sub-Saharan Africa to North Africa, and salt, cloth, and other goods from North Africa to sub-Saharan Africa. Like on the Silk Road, caravans would often travel in groups for safety and would stop at caravanserais along the way.

In both cases, the caravans were not just about trade. They were also about cultural exchange, as ideas, religions, and technologies were often spread along these routes. For example, Islam spread across North Africa and into sub-Saharan Africa largely through the Trans-Saharan trade route, while Buddhism spread from India to China along the Silk Road.