From 1200 to 1450, The integration of West African states into wider regional and transregional economic networks in the period was carried out mostly via Trans Saharan Trade Routes.
This was made possible by the availability of camels and caravans that serves as a means of transportation for both humans and goods between West Africa and North Africa or the Middle East.
The major goods of exchange at the time were Gold in West Africa in exchange for Salt from the Mediterranean region.
The legend of the Trans Saharan Trade Routes was made popular during the time of Mansa Musa, the Malian Empire King. It cut across major cities in West Africa
