Journeys to search for gold in Western Sudan before Islam

Abstract

African peoples have been interested in obtaining gold, searching for it, and searching for its mines, regardless of all the dangers, since ancient times, due to the importance of gold in human life in general, especially the social and economic ones . This interest appears clear, especially in the countries located south of the Sahara, which is one of the most famous countries for gold, and it is the same country in which many major countries and kingdoms were formed that flourished thanks to gold and its trade, and the control of the rulers of those countries over the trans-Saharan gold trade since before Islam. This study discussed many important topics related to gold, its importance, as well as its symbolism in that country, as well as how interest in gold and the search for it began since ancient times.  The study also dealt with the ancient peoples and tribes that were interested in gold and searching for it, in addition to talking about the most important means that humans used in searching for gold, especially bulls, horses, and camels, who played an important role in reaching gold mines and markets, as each of them constituted an important stage in the research stages. This study also monitored the most important trips and adventures undertaken by merchants coming from the northern desert to the markets of the south in order to obtain the gold, and what were the challenges and risks they faced to achieve that goal.