Long Distance Trade

The long distance trade routes are those used by traders in central Africa who used to walk long distances looking for either the market for their goods or the goods that they don't produce. The trade took place between groups with different cultures in a given administrative unit, or state and between neighbors', and the central African natives and the Europeans who were mainly interested in exchange of their products to obtain the slaves who were taken to provide manual labor in their farms and other industries. The kind of goods traded here include those from informal  industry, food products  and other products which are majorly produced by those who practice long distance trade and trade items are from European countries like copper and salt (Jansen, 1962).

Long distance trade routes lead to the coming up of centralized states in the Sahel region. This comes about as a result of this trade happening in specific locations like the administrative centers and in specific communities. Particular administrative centers and communities do have an endowment of particular raw materials and /or artistry skills that exists in no other area. Markets were located at boarders of communities that took part in trade, or state headquarters which grew up to be the administrative headquarters of these states and eventually the centralized states.

The traders paid tribute and tax that led to growth of the states as products of value were obtained by states or kingdoms from the neighboring districts. Among these products, were energetic men, craftsmen and artists who were also bought as slaves by the heads of the informal centralized states in form of kingdoms, and the slaves worked for this states/kingdom under the orders of the state and supervision of the royal patronage (Brynn, 2008). As the centralized form of administration inform of kingdoms grew, their economy improved and this came with development of craftsmen and art. Workers also specialized in their areas and improved in their skills. As a result of these, the demand for forced laborers who were also arts men and who performed all sorts of manual labor increased and this led to high slave trade.

Jansen (1962) observes that there were various groups that were involved with this trade. First the Europeans brought the copper and salt among other goods in exchange of the slaves. This led to slave trade increase. The other group is that of the rulers that consists of kings and bureaucrats. Their increased demand of craft and art products resulted to a large pool of arts men and crafts men, who were now more specialized. Lastly other traders also contributed to the growth of the kingdom through the tax they paid among other factors that led to establishment and growth of central states in form of kingdom.

In conclusion, the long distance trade routes resulted to growth of  trade in Sahel region. This trade came with the impact of development and growth of administrative centers in form of kingdoms. The Europeans who were interested in Africans in exchange of their copper and salt among other products led to high levels of slave trade in the central Africa. Besides, the trade led to the developed governance systems in form of central states.