Silent trade facts for kids
Silent trade, also known as silent barter, was a way for people to trade goods without speaking to each other. It was used when traders didn't speak the same language. The word "dumb" here means "mute" or "unable to speak."
Here's how it worked:
- One group of traders (let's call them Group A) would leave their goods in a special spot.
- They would then make a signal, like beating a drum or lighting a fire, to let the other group know the goods were there.
- The second group (Group B) would come to the spot, look at the goods, and then leave their own goods or money they wanted to trade.
- After leaving their offer, Group B would go away.
- Group A would then return. If they liked the offer, they would take Group B's goods. This meant the trade was done.
- If Group A didn't like the offer, they would leave Group B's goods and go away again. This signaled Group B to add more or change their offer.
- The trade finished when Group A accepted Group B's offer and took the goods. Then Group B would take the original goods.
This trading method was used in many parts of ancient Africa, especially between 500 and 1500 AD. It was also common between African tribes and traders from India. For example, a traveler named Cosmas Indicopleustes wrote about silent trade in Azania, where people from Axum traded for gold using beef. Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal also saw this practice in Ceuta in 1415.
In West Africa, people traded gold from the south of the Sahel for salt from the desert. Salt was very important for flavoring and preserving food. Gold was valuable, especially for trading with Europeans. Because of this trade, cities grew and became important trading centers in West Africa. This region produced a lot of gold until about 1500 AD. Drums were often used to communicate during these gold-for-salt trades.
Silent trade was used for a few reasons. Sometimes, it was simply because traders couldn't understand each other's language. Other times, it was to keep the secret of where valuable goods like gold and salt came from.
How Silent Trade Worked
To do a silent trade, one group of traders would go to a special place. They would leave their goods there and then move away. They would often beat a drum to let the other traders know that a trade was ready.
The second group of traders would then come forward. They would look at the goods, which were often salt or gold. If they liked what they saw, they would take the goods. In return, they would leave their own goods and then leave the area. This system was very important in ancient Ghana. It was also used by the Kushites and the Aksumites.
The ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote about the gold trade between Ghana and Carthage. He explained how the Carthaginians would leave their goods on the beach and make smoke. The local people would then come, leave gold for the goods, and go away. The Carthaginians would check the gold. If it was enough, they would take it. If not, they would go back to their boats and wait for the locals to add more gold. Herodotus said both sides were very honest. The Carthaginians never took the gold until it was a fair price, and the locals never touched the goods until the gold was taken away.
See also
In Spanish: Comercio silencioso para niños
