Throughout the post-classical era, Afro-Eurasian trade routes saw many startling progressions in technology, but the goods they traded and many other things stayed the same. The Bedouins suffered as trade routes changed and coastal traders became more wealthy, and Islam spread through Africa through these routes. In the 1st century BCE, Trans-Saharan trade was a prominent part of the classical period. During this time, nomads and traders used camels to transport their goods, which were mainly salt and palm oil. A new development also came with the implementation of camels- the camel saddle. During the Roman Empire, the Trans-Saharan trade route also brought olives, wheat, and wild animals to European countries. This trade declined after the fall of the Romans. In the 7th and 8th centuries, trade thrived in Africa because of the arrival of Islam. Nomads called bebers spread Islam almost entirely through North Africa by 700 CE. The berbers brought with them a whole rejuvenated trade system, and new goods from all over Africa. West Africans, also affected by these Islamic merchants, traded ivory, slaves, and gold for horses, salt, and textiles. …show more content…
East Africa even had international trade centuries before Islam. They had traders from all over India, Southeast Asia, Persia, and Romans and Greeks. Although there was trade in the Indian Ocean for many, many centuries, it declined after the Han, Gupta, and Roman empires fell. Islamic peoples revived this trade route and created thriving city-states like Kilwa, Mombasa, and Zanzibar. These city-states and many others like them traded ivory, gold, slaves, and many exotic products like tortoise shells and peacock feathers for goods such as Chinese porcelain, cotton from India, and ironwork. Indian Ocean trade also brought along more advanced