Final answer:
Western Europe faced destabilization and a decline in commerce during the postclassical period, while the Islamic kingdoms and the Byzantine Empire experienced flourishing trade. Sub-Saharan Africa, interconnected by transregional trade routes, saw various empires rise to prosperity. Nomadic tribes were crucial to trade in the harsh Saharan environment, and the arrival of Europeans brought significant changes to Africa's trade dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks us to compare Western Europe with sub-Saharan Africa as contributors to transregional trade during the postclassical period, specifically focusing on strengths and weaknesses. During the early Middle Ages (500 to 1000 CE), Western Europe experienced political instability and a lack of centralized authority following the fall of the Roman Empire. This led to a decline in urban centers and a detriment to commerce as travel and trade became more difficult and perilous.
In contrast, trade and urban life were thriving in the early Islamic kingdoms, which stretched from Spain to India. The Byzantine Empire also continued classical traditions, with Constantinople emerging as a pivotal hub of global trade. Germanic kings worked to establish new alliances and engage in world trade and diplomacy.
In sub-Saharan Africa, societies developed along similar lines. Nomadic Africans played a critical role in the trans-Saharan trade by providing services and facilitating the flow of goods across difficult terrain. The rise of empires like the Fatimid Caliphate were instrumental in the boost of trade throughout the region. The cultural melting pot that emerged on the Swahili coast, due to interactions between Africans and Arabs, became a key region for exchange, enhancing the trade network that included Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
During the Age of Discovery, regions in Africa experienced varying impacts, with the western and central parts heavily influenced by the slave trade. The demand for goods like gold, salt, and slaves established Africa as a central player in global trade.
While Western Europe struggled during the early Middle Ages but later recovered, sub-Saharan Africa benefited continuously from transregional trade, enabling various African empires to prosper. Europeans would later join the trade networks, changing the dynamics, especially with the onset of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.