The History of Ivory Trade Essay -- World History

The floor of Ivory TradeIvorys appeal to the upper- associationes as a symbol of affluence and its timeless demeanor has lured people to the tusks since as far back as the ancient Egyptians virtually the year 3000BC. Since the Egyptians, every civilization with a significant upper class population has sought bone and been willing to pay a grant price for it. The most expensive and most sought after was the bead of East Africa where it was agreed that the off-white was, without a doubt, the best in the world. For a long time Asian drop was used, because it was much easier to obtain, though the ivory was harder to shape, more likely to break, and less attractive. The Asian ivory came from tusks of elephants that were largely unlike from African elephants. For starters, they had a smaller build and differently shaped tusks. The African elephants had an average tusk size of about sixty pounds to the Asian elephants forty. The African elephants lived in the tropical jungles of Africas east coast, while the Asian elephant lived in a far different environment. As it happened, it was the African elephant that troops desired but had a difficult time getting to Africa. accept that the danger of a trip to Africa outweighed the potential profits of the voyage merchants and consumers colonised for the lower quality ivory.With the advancement in sailing technology and the endorsement of turning a large profit ambitious traders ventured to East Africa to pee the ivory trade. In exchange for ivory, these merchants offered cloth, guns, tools, and other goods, but none duplicate the value placed on ivory in the varied cultures. With the ivory secured merchants turned to several different markets around the world to unload their ... ...ers Relating to Africa This resourcefulness was very helpful in providing facts and putting into perspective the magnitude of the ivory trade.Sheriff, Abdul. Slaves, Spices & Ivory in Zanzibar. London James Currey Publis hers, 1987. This book enabled me to understand the mise en scene and biography of the ivory trade.Alpers, Edward. Ivory and Slaves. Los Angeles University of California press, 1975. This book explained the basic story of the ivory trade.Bartleby Online. Bartleby Online complete history of the world. 2 October 2002 http//www.bartleby.com/67/1528.html This source provides a very basic and concise overview of the ivory trade. All Africa. August 2002. History of Trade Between Addis, Arabia And the Horn of Africa. 1 October 2002 http//allafrica.com/stories/200208050830.html. This source provides a history of the eastern ivory trade.