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The routes shown are based on mid-1800s accounts, but many of them had been in use since the early Middle Ages. What makes this map unique is that it not only charts the trade paths but also highlights the vital watering holes, waypoints, man-made versus natural water sources and travel times.
It is easy to imagine the Saharan desert as a vast mass of sand dunes. Another romantic image of this desert is that of long winding camel caravans. Whilst the Sahara does indeed have dunes and were famous for its long caravans, actually traveling on this loose sand is the worst possible scenario for any merchant – making these two popular images slightly contradictory. A caravan wants hard surfaces for easy walking and this is indeed what the Saharan desert is actually mostly comprised of. I hope to add a deeper understanding for the geographical components that made crossing this desert possible.
