Basic 3 · History · Inter-Group Relations
Old Trade Routes and Markets
In this topic you will learn about old trade routes and famous markets in Ghana.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Describe the old trade routes
- Name famous old markets
- Explain why markets were important
What you already know
- How ethnic groups related long ago
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- My country Ghana
- Sub-strand
- Inter-Group Relations
- Indicator
- B3.2.2.1.1 – Discuss the nature of exchanges among the ethnic groups
Introduction
About two hundred years ago, Salaga in the north was one of the busiest markets in West Africa. Traders came from far and near to buy kola nuts.
1. Trade Routes
Traders walked long paths, called trade routes, carrying goods on their heads or on donkeys.
- North–south routes linked the savanna, the forest and the coast.
- Goods from the north went south; goods from the coast went north.
2. Famous Old Markets
| Market | Region | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Salaga | Savannah | kola nuts, cattle, cloth |
| Kumasi | Ashanti | kola, gold, cloth |
| Begho | Bono | gold and cloth (very old) |
| Coastal towns (Cape Coast, Accra) | coast | salt, fish, European goods |
New words
- trade route
- A path traders used.
- market
- A place where people buy and sell.
- kola nut
- A nut from the forest, popular in the north.
- trader
- A person who buys and sells.
Summary
- Old trade routes linked the north, forest and coast.
- Salaga, Kumasi and Begho were famous markets.
- Markets brought different groups together.
Class activity: Market Day Role Play
- Act as traders from the north, forest and coast.
- Bring "goods" from your area to the market.
- Exchange them and explain where they came from.
You need: Ghana map, Printed photographs of Ghanaian ethnic groups, Kente, Smock fabric samples
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which was a famous old market in the north?
- A. Salaga
- B. Takoradi
- C. Tema
- D. Ho
Show answer
Answer: SalagaSalaga was a big market.2. Kola nuts came mainly from the…
- A. Forest
- B. Desert
- C. Sea
- D. Moon
Show answer
Answer: ForestKola trees grow in the forest.3. Traders walked long trade routes.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThey carried goods.4. Trade routes only went from east to west.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseMany went north to south.5. A path traders used is a trade ______.
Show answer
Answer: routeThat is a trade route.6. Why were markets important?
Show answer
Answer: They brought groups together to exchange goods.Markets linked people.
Homework
- Visit or ask about a market near you. What goods come from far away?