Morocco's Jewish Merchants and Trans-Saharan Trade

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the lesser-known role of Jewish merchants in Morocco's trans-Saharan trade networks, from the medieval period through the early modern era. They explore how Jewish traders, operating from Sijilmasa and Tafilalt, connected sub-Saharan gold and salt with Mediterranean markets, often serving as key intermediaries between Muslim rulers and Christian Europe. Lucas highlights the unique legal status of dhimmi which allowed Jewish communities to thrive in commerce, and recounts the story of the Ibn Yaish family, who managed trade and diplomacy for the Saadian sultans. The episode also touches on the decline of Jewish trade networks after the Saadian period and the shift toward Atlantic ports. Listeners will gain insight into the complex religious and economic dynamics that shaped Morocco's role as a crossroads of civilizations.

#Morocco #JewishMerchants #TransSaharanTrade #Sijilmasa #Tafilalt #IbnYaish #Saadian #Dhimmi #GoldTrade #SaltTrade #Maghreb #MoroccanHistory #TradeNetworks #MedievalTrade #EarlyModern #FexingoHistory #History #NorthAfrica #Almoravid #Almohad

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