The Gold of Wangara (1)

 I'm collecting data for the third (and probably last) part of my current study, 'The Quest for the River of Gold'. Devoted to medieval West Africa, this research aims to show the nuances of the Trans-Saharan trade and a long way of transporting gold from its sources to clients. I have finished the initial quest and now have to peruse some books and academic articles before starting to estimate my collection of facts and opinions. 

My latest publicized article, Beware of 'Barbarians', has gained traction among many readers, becoming my second best extract after only a week's run. My ratings have surged 33 % at the same time. Besides, I have received a vast array of the critics' opinions about my piece of writing. Many of them offer friendly advice about how I can improve my work. You can view my paper 

https://www.academia.edu/44115626/Beware_of_Barbarians 

and get to know my other opuses 

https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael

I wish you all secure and smooth transition through these troubled times. 

Under the Desert Sun (3)

 I finished the draft of the second part of the new research. 

As I have already told you, the chapter will probably comprise three parts. Part 3 will be about the Wangara traders in West Africa. This is a vast social group of inter-region traders and Muslim scholars who founded settlements along the trade routes throughout the region. These guys delivered gold produced by the miners to the Sahel market towns where it was exchanged for an array of products essential for local and inter-regional trade. 

I am also considering the future developments of my project. It is high time to speak about Portugal as an emerging sea power in the fourteenth- early fifteenth century and maybe to continue the story about the discovery of the mid-Atlantic islands (Madeira  and the Azores). 

  Meanwhile, I uploaded a new chapter from my second book. The extract titled Beware of the 'Barbarians' elaborates on the role of Alexander Macedon as the guardian of the civilized world against the steppe realm. The Eurasian nomads were marginalized on behalf of their lifestyle, diet, behavior, social norms, and psychological traits. The Caspian Gates, the venue of the legend,  was transferred to the Caucasus and associated with the mountain passes. A few scholars left their positive replies offering some changes. 

https://www.academia.edu/44115626/Beware_of_Barbarians

You can also view the entire list of my articles https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichae

By the way, a full list of my readers has exceeded 1 K, which I  perceive as the major personal achievement considering the fact that most readers are researchers rather than the general public. 

Under the Desert Sun: The Vagaries of the Trans-Saharan Trade (2)

 

The African king depicted on the Catalan Atlas is boasting of his gold reserve

Courtesy: https://www.quora.com/Individually-and-together-what-effects-did-colonialism-the-scramble-for-Africa-and-the-slave-trade-have-on-Africa 

The second part of the chapter is getting into shape. I am writing about the difficulties of crossing the Great Desert, the logistics of the journey, and its economic necessity. What is left is a conclusion and the general polish of the text. I am hopeful it won't take that long. 

The third part of the chapter will be devoted to the Wangara traders, a group of West-African merchants who engaged in salt for gold exchange. They had access to the forest zone and contacted with the gold miners. However, their impact was not reduced to gold alone. Again, the phenomenon is more important to me than a rigid time frame. 

It will probably be the last part of the chapter. I decided to avoid depicting the Portuguese advancement into Guinea at this stage of my research. I will also consider the general conclusion of Unit I instead of summing up each chapter separately. 

You may read the first three chapters of my book on my page  https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael

namely: How wide Spans the Ocean Sea

Beyond the Pillars of Hercules

The Rediscovered Islands