This assignment is worth 50 points.

 You will need two different colored highlighters.  As we read through the article,  With one color, highlight positives of using the camel caravan.  With the other color, highlight negatives of the camel caravans.

 Answer the following questions with your partner:  How did the salt mines of Taudenni influence the city of Timbuktu?  Why is the journey important to Muslims?  What are the dangers of making the journey by camel caravan?  What are the benefits of using trucks?  What would the people of Timbuktu lose if trucks were used?

 Using information from the text, answer the following question:  In light of technological advances, are camel caravans still necessary to life in the Sahara Desert? Why or Why not?  You must write at least a paragraph (or half a page). Within your answer highlight or underline the textual evidence that you use.