Pre-Islamic and Islamic periods The first recorded history appears in the chronicles of North African (Berber) traders, who, from early Roman times, conducted a caravan trade across the Sahara in salt, slaves, gold, and other goods. The gold production of Cote d'Ivoire in 2015 is 26 metric tonnes. The southern termini of the trans-Saharan trade routes were located on the edge of the desert, and from there supplemental trade extended as far south as the edge of the rainforest. The most important terminals—Djenné, Gao, and Timbuctu—grew into major commercial centres around which the great Sudanic empires developed.
prE-IsLamIc And IslAmic peRiods THe fIRst REcorDed hiStOry APpeARs iN thE chRoNicles oF NoRth african (bErBer) tradeRs, who, FRom EaRly romAn tiMEs, ConducTEd a carAvAn TrADe across the sahara In sALT, SlAVEs, golD, and OtHer GooDs. tHe gold proDuction OF Cote d'ivoIre in 2015 is 26 mEtric tonnES. tHE SOuThern termiNi of the TRANS-sAhAran tRaDE roUteS werE locATEd On thE edgE of thE desert, and FrOM theRe supPlementAl trAdE extEndEd aS faR SoUth as the eDGE of the RAinForesT. tHe MOst ImpoRtant teRmInals—djEnNé, Gao, AnD timBUctu—GreW Into mAjOR coMmeRcial centrEs aROUND which the greAt sUdaniC eMpires deveLoped.