Empire of Mali

Sundiata, Mansa Musa, Timbuktu

Sundiata & Mansa Musa

• Sundiata: of Mande ppl. Founder of Mali Empire- - Griots have been telling the Epic of Sundiata for over 900 years (mix of history & legend)

- He took RG & political power from local leaders, mansa’s, and took the name with it

• Mansa Musa: most famous ruler who brought wealth, fame, and power to the kingdom of Ghana

- Grandson of one of Sundiata’s sisters (matrilineal tradition)

Scene I: 2 pillars

1. Trade: Conquered nearby kingdoms (weakened Ghana, Timbuktu, Gao,Djenne) took over S & G trade, use of Niger

2. Agriculture: Improved and introduced new crops; cotton used for clothing & trade

• Slaves from conquered areas worked the land, soldiers worked alongside them to clear farm land

• Sundiata first est. this system and Mansa Musa continued its prosperity

Salt slabs on the shores of the Niger river- outskirts of Timbuktu

Scene II: Spread of Islam- The Hajj

• Mansa Musa 1st devout Muslim ruler in W. Africa• Islam spread and several ppl. From Mali made

the Hajj to Mecca• Est. 60,000-80,000ppl. Accompanied Mansa on

his journey to Mecca/Medina in 1324- 12,000 servants to king- 500 servants to his wife- 14,000 slaves wearing silk - 500 carrying staffs

Celebration of Eid ul-Fitr on the last day of Ramadan

Dogon Country-Mali

Scene III: Outside Views of Mali

• As recently as 1963, a famous British historian Hugh Trevor-Roper said: "Perhaps in the future, there will be some African history to teach. But at present there is none. There is only the history of Europeans in Africa. The rest is darkness.“

• Mansa Musa’s elaborate journey sparked interest in Mali and many ppl. From Asia, Egypt, and other parts of Africa visited=more trade= more wealth for empire

• By 1375 Mali appeared on a European map of West Africa

• Map from 1375

shows King Mansa Musa enthroned in the kingdom of Mali.

Scene IV: Mosques & Universities

• Sent scholars o study in Morocco and set up school in Mali studying the Qur’an

• Wanted Muslims to read/write in Arabic

• Arabic as main language in RG study, government, & trade

• Hired architects from other Muslim countries to build mosques throughout his empire : Timbuktu & Djenne

Mosques in

Djenne

Market Day in Djenne

Founded in 300 CE by Bozo ppl.

-Never part of Mali Empire, yet rivaled Timbuktu as a center for

Trans-Saharan trade

Scene V: African Explorers?

• Some historians suggest that West Africans traveled to South/Central America and the Caribbean Islands prior to Columbus.

Timbuktu: The Legendary city of Gold…..

• Tuareg nomads from Sahara first est. Timbuktu in 11th century.

• Once conquered by Mali became an important location as a link between N. and W. Africa.

• Important center for trade: salt, gold, cloth, sugar, kola nuts, glass beads, and shells, slaves, books…

• Several mosques were built by Mansa Musa & later rulers=center of Islamic learning

Mosques in Timbuktu

Sankore Mosque- former University & center of learning. Built in 989 C.E.

•Timbuktu Manuscripts

Iron welders

Tuareg Nomads

First settlers of Mali & still there today….

• A monument to a war ended in 1994

between the

Tuareg nomads

and the Muslims

within Mali.

Without a home….

Fall of Empire

1. Weak leadership: Maghan took over after Mansa Musa’s death, could not stop raiders who set fire to Timbuktu’s great schools & mosques

2. Mali grew too large for gov’t to control, parts began to break away and declare independence

3. Invaders: Tuareg nomads seized Timbuktu in 1431

4. By 1500’s Mali empire was dismantled