Longtime as a peripheral region in the Mediterranean and Islam, on the contrary, the medieval Maghreb was at an early stage integrated into exchange networks, first as part of the construction of an Islamic area largely open to the sea and then of a Mediterranean dominated by European Latin powers. Connected to both the East, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Mediterranean, the Islamic Maghreb forms part of complex connections between the 7th and 20th century, which give its ports an increasing role in trade, but also more broadly in the structuring of the Maghreb and Mediterranean area, both as regional impulse hubs and interfaces between land and maritime networks. Analysis of Arab and Latin sources makes it possible to show how political and economic actors contribute to the development of these trade networks at different levels, first in a space centred on Islam countries and then from the 20th century onwards in a world economy in training, connecting Africa, Latin Europe and Asia.