fun with maps: trade and roads

(click on the links to look at the maps in detail)

If you’re interested in african history or economics, you may one day get to see a map like this one:

That’s early african trade routes. There are probably better ones out there but this has the basics: swahili costal cities as access points in the east, transaharian trade etc..
Do you notice a hole ?

Well, fast forward (in time) and check this:

African railroads. I think only two of them were built post-independence: the transgabonese and one in Tanzania. I think it’s a good map of colonial trade roads. Of course the particularity is that most roads here link to ports. The transaharian trade is dead and intersahelian is not represented as it’s done through roads.
notice a hole ?

what about this:

Current. I believe it’s on the positive side. Some roads I see there do not qualify as all weather/improved and some of the motorways are just improved dirt roads but nevertheless it gives an idea of where they are. Alternatively you can use this:

Mostly because the transharan makes a come back and because the classification is better.
Or you could check the accessibility map..

Do you still see a hole ?

What about this one ?

The map of the future transafrican highway system. Do you see where the links break ? Do you see the potential (smaller) hole ?

Just in case I’m the only one seeing it, here it is: West Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa or even North Africa are all more or less interconnected and appear to have been for a long time. Central Africa is the weak transport/trade link and has been for a while.
And the issue is not that it’s badly connected to other areas, it’s just badly connected within itself. What do we blame for that ?

The deep forest ?

or the Congo River ?

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Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• South African Road Maps
• Afroeurasian Trade Networks essay, 1
• Geology app puts mountains of info in the palm of your hand
• World Briefing