TRANSPORTATION
Another major indigenous technology of the ancient African was transportation. With indigenous knowledge, the ancient Africans moved and migrated from one geographical area to another. They started travelling on foot, then to the use of litters (palanquins), which were used to carry royals and the rich people in their communities. To move faster and spend fewer days travelling, they used animals. For, example, bullocks were the primary pack animals used to carry loads and pull carts across the vast Sahara Desert. Later camels, donkeys and horses were introduced. At the same time, several innovations provided water-based transportation services to the people. Rafts, canoes, and boats were used on the rivers, lakes, and the sea in the coastal areas.
Discuss the following:
a. Why have some indigenous modes of transportation been replaced by more modern ones?
b. Why have some indigenous modes of transportation persisted?
c. Which indigenous modes of transportation might be useful to start using more of if we are trying to limit our impact on the environment?
The Impact of Transportation on Ancient Africa
1. Promotion of trade
Ancient African transportation systems led to the development of wide trade networks that connected various regions. The most notable example is the Trans-Saharan trade routes that linked North Africa with sub-Saharan Africa. These routes enabled the exchange of goods such as gold, salt, ivory, and slaves. Again, cities like Timbuktu, Gao, and Djenne became rich and powerful due to their strategic positions along trade routes.
2. Promotion of cultural exchange
Trade routes also enabled the exchange of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices. For instance, the introduction of Islam to West Africa was influenced by the Trans- Saharan trade. The movement of people and goods led to the mixture of cultures, languages, and traditions, enriching the cultural tapestry of ancient African societies.
3. Empire Building
Control over key trade routes contributed to the rise of powerful empires and kingdoms such as the Ghana Empire, Mali Empire, and Songhai Empire. These empires were able to exercise control over vast territories and populations.
4. Technological Advancements
Innovations such as the use of camels for desert trade developed transportation across the Sahara. The camel caravans allowed for more efficient and longer-distance travel. Coastal regions engaged in maritime trade across the Indian Ocean, linking East Africa with the Middle East, India, and beyond.
5. Irrigation Systems
Irrigation played a significant role in the lives of ancient African societies, especially in the Sahel Regions. In ancient Egypt, Egyptians constructed canals, dikes, and reservoirs to control the rivers flow to distribute water to agricultural fields during both flood and drought seasons. In the Sahel regions, indigenous people developed innovative irrigation techniques to support agriculture in a semi-arid environment.