Morocco's Jewish Merchants: The Trans-Saharan Trade Link

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the pivotal yet often overlooked role of Jewish merchants in Morocco's trans-Saharan trade. From the 10th to the 16th centuries, Jewish networks linked Sijilmasa, Tafilalt, and Fez with Timbuktu, Gao, and the goldfields of West Africa. They discuss the unique status of dhimmis under Islamic rule, the trading diaspora of the Berber Jewish tribes like the Zirids and the role of the mellah system in commerce. Key figures include the Ibn Yaish family, who served as viziers and financiers to the Marinid sultans, and the famed traveler Benjamin of Tudela, who documented Jewish communities in the Maghreb. The episode also touches on the impact of the Almohad persecution, which forced many to flee or convert, and the later Saadian policy of toleration that revived Jewish trade. A nuanced look at how a minority shaped Morocco's economic and cultural history.

#Morocco #JewishHistory #TransSaharanTrade #Sijilmasa #Tafilalt #Fez #Timbuktu #GoldTrade #Mellah #BenjaminOfTudela #IbnYaish #Marinids #Almohads #Saadians #Dhimmi #BerberJews #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica #Almoravid

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