Sijilmasa

Sijilmasa was an important medieval trading city located in present-day Morocco, around the 8th to 14th centuries. It served as a key hub in trans-Saharan trade, connecting West Africa’s gold, salt, and other goods with North Africa and beyond. Strategically situated near the Sahara Desert, Sijilmasa facilitated commerce between different regions and was influential in spreading culture, religion, and economic activity. Its prosperity declined as trade routes shifted and larger empires emerged, but historically, it played a vital role in the development of trade networks and cultural exchanges across the Sahara and West Africa.