Taghaza and Taoudenni Salt Mines and Caravan Networks (c. 8th–20th centuries)

1. Early medieval Sahel–Sahara salt demand grows

   Jan 1, 800Labels: Sahel, Sahara, Salt trade

   • Archaeology Mag
   • Trans Saharan

2. Al-Bakri describes Saharan salt mines near Sijilmasa

   Jan 1, 1068Labels: Al-Bakri, Sijilmasa, Taghaza

   • Taghaza
   • Trans Saharan

3. Taghaza first named in al-Qazwini’s geography

   Jan 1, 1275Labels: Al-Qazwini, Taghaza, Salt buildings

   • Taghaza

4. Ibn Battuta visits Taghaza on Mali journey

   Feb 13, 1352Labels: Ibn Battuta, Taghaza, Caravan economy

   • ORIAS
   • Ibn Battuta

5. Taghaza marked on the 1375 Catalan Atlas

   Jan 1, 1375Labels: Catalan Atlas, West Africa, Trans-Saharan routes

   • Catalan Atlas
   • Taghaza

6. Taghaza salt trade supports Niger River markets

   Jan 1, 1400Labels: Taghaza, Niger River, Timbuktu

   • Trans Saharan
   • Archaeology Mag

7. Leo Africanus reports on Taghaza’s difficult conditions

   Jan 1, 1510Labels: Leo Africanus, Taghaza, Logistics

   • Taghaza
   • Leo Africanus

8. Saadian forces occupy Taghaza; miners shift toward Taoudenni

   Jan 1, 1586Labels: Saadian forces, Taghaza, Taoudenni

   • Taoudenni
   • Taghaza

9. Moroccan invasion of Songhai reshapes salt-route power

   Jan 1, 1591Labels: Morocco, Songhai, Battle of

   • Taghaza
   • Pashalik
   • Judar Pasha

10. Taoudenni becomes the key salt-mining center

    Jan 1, 1600Labels: Taoudenni, Salt slabs, Caravans

    • Taghaza
    • Taoudenni

11. Caillié records large caravans and Taghaza ruins

    Jan 1, 1828Labels: Ren Cailli, Taghaza, 19th-century caravans

    • Taghaza
    • Ren Cailli

12. French officer Cortier publishes early description of Taoudenni

    Jan 1, 1906Labels: douard Cortier, Taoudenni, Ksar de

    • Taoudenni

13. Traditional “azalai” salt caravans persist into mid-20th century

    Jan 1, 1940Labels: Azalai, Timbuktu, Taoudenni

    • Azalai
    • Taoudenni

14. Taoudenni prison built; forced labor used at mines

    Jan 1, 1969Labels: Moussa Traor, Taoudenni prison, Forced labor

    • Taoudenni
    • Taoudeni FR

15. Taoudenni prison closes as trade shifts toward trucks

    Nov 1, 1988Labels: Taoudenni prison, Motor trucks, Trade shift

    • Taoudenni
    • Azalai