AdrianPerkins: The Sahara desert poses many dangers to the merchants and travelers trying to traverse the terrain. Thus, intermediaries became a necessity to enable trade across the Sahara. There were many diverse people that interact to form the expansive network that support the supply and demand for trade. Legends and stories about travelers likely originate from those cultures. For example, the Amazigh nomads were competent in Arabic and were essential for their knowledge of the routes across the desert and for their expertise in managing the camel caravans.

During the ninth century, the Abbasid caliphs moved their capital from Damascus to Baghdad. Baghdad dominated between the crossroads of some great trade routes. These trade routes were both on land and water, reaching from China to the Mediterranean.