Caravans are groups of travelers who move together on long journeys, often across deserts. They have been used for trade and travel for many centuries. Traveling in groups helped people stay safer.

Between about 700 and 1500 CE, caravans crossed the Sahara Desert along trade routes linking West Africa and North Africa. Camels carried goods such as gold, salt, and textiles over long distances. Traders stopped at oases and cities along the route to rest and exchange goods.

Caravans are studied in history through trade records, maps, and accounts of journeys. They show how goods and people moved across difficult environments.