Why was silent trade practiced by Trans-Saharan traders?

Silent trade was practiced by Trans-Saharan traders because of the language barriers between different ethnic groups and tribes in the region. By conducting trade silently, traders could avoid misunderstandings and conflicts that could arise from miscommunication. Additionally, silent trade allowed traders to maintain a level of anonymity and secrecy, which was important for protecting their trade routes and goods from theft or raids by bandits.

Silent trade was practiced by Trans-Saharan traders for a number of reasons:

- Lack of a common language: Traders from different regions of Africa and the Middle East often did not share a common language. This made it difficult to communicate and negotiate prices and terms of trade.
- Avoidance of conflict: Silent trade helped to avoid misunderstandings and conflict between traders. By not engaging in verbal communication, traders could reduce the risk of offending each other or making false promises.
- Security: Silent trade could help to protect traders from attack. By not speaking, traders could avoid attracting attention to themselves or their goods.
- Ritual: Silent trade was sometimes practiced as a ritual or custom. In some cultures, it was considered disrespectful to speak while trading.

Silent trade was a common practice in the Trans-Saharan trade for centuries. It helped to facilitate trade between different regions of Africa and the Middle East, and it played an important role in the development of the Trans-Saharan trade network.