Description

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.

See the full resolution of the map here

MAKING THE MAP

The map is compiled from old travel accounts, contemporary official reports and modern research.
The map is fully original and hand-made by myself.

THE PRINT

Width: 500 mm (19,69″)
Height: 400 mm (15,7″)
Margins: 7 mm (0,27″). Allows for framing without losing information.

Suitable for framing or gluing onto a foam board.
Perfect for affordable 400×500 mm frames, such as from IKEA, as seen in the photos.
The map is printed on high quality thick paper from a local printer in Leuven, Belgium.

SOURCES

Hermann Habenicht (1887) Spezial-karte von Afrika
Klaus Braun (2020) Across the Sahara: Tracks, Trade and Cross-cultural Exchange in Libya
Gustav Nachtigal (1889) Sahara and the Sudan
Adolf Stieler (1925) Map of Africa
Heinrich Barth (1860) Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa
James Richardson (1847) Travels in the great desert of the Sahara
Rene Caillie (1830) Travels through Central Africa to Timbuctoo
E.W. Bovill (1968) Golden trade of the Moors
José Carlos Brito (2013) Unravelling biodiversity, evolution and threats to conservation in the Sahara-Sahel
Dennis D. Cordell (1977) Eastern Libya, Wadai and the Sanūsīya: A Tarīqa and a Trade Route
Sir Samuel W. Baker (1861) In the Heart of Africa
Henri Duveyrier (1864) Les Tuareg du Nord