WEST AFRICAWEST AFRICA

Chapter 6.2Chapter 6.2

7.4.3

The Empire of MaliThe Empire of Mali

The Big IdeaThe Big Idea

The wealthy and powerful Mali Empire ruled The wealthy and powerful Mali Empire ruled West Africa after the fall of Ghana.West Africa after the fall of Ghana.

The Empire of MaliThe Empire of Mali

• Main Idea 1:Main Idea 1:– A ruler named A ruler named

SundiataSundiata made made Mali into an empire.Mali into an empire.

• Sundiata, Mali’s first strong leaderSundiata, Mali’s first strong leader, was , was both a warrior and a magician.both a warrior and a magician.

• He conquered Ghana and took over the He conquered Ghana and took over the salt and gold trades.salt and gold trades.

The Empire of MaliThe Empire of Mali

• Sundiata had new farmlands cleared for Sundiata had new farmlands cleared for crops of beans, onions, and rice. He also crops of beans, onions, and rice. He also introduced cotton as a new crop.introduced cotton as a new crop.

The Empire of MaliThe Empire of Mali

onions riceonions rice

beans cottonbeans cotton

• To protect his authority, Sundiata took To protect his authority, Sundiata took power away from others and adopted the power away from others and adopted the title title mansamansa, which means “king of kings.”, which means “king of kings.”

The Empire of MaliThe Empire of Mali

Mansa Musa and MaliMansa Musa and Mali

• Main Idea 2:Main Idea 2:– Mali reached its Mali reached its

height under the height under the ruler ruler Mansa Musa.Mansa Musa.

Mansa Musa and MaliMansa Musa and Mali

• IslamIslam was important to Mansa Musa and was important to Mansa Musa and he influenced the he influenced the spread of Islamspread of Islam in in West Africa.West Africa.– He had mosques built throughout his empire.He had mosques built throughout his empire.

Mansa Musa and MaliMansa Musa and Mali

Some of the mosques that you can in West Africa.

Mansa Musa and MaliMansa Musa and Mali

• Mansa Musa is famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca.Mansa Musa is famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca.

MeccaMali

Mansa Musa

Mali’s king Mansa Musa and his caravan travel to holy city of Mecca. In this picture the caravan is passing through the Egyptian city of Cairo.

The Ka’abah, in Mecca, was Mansa Musa’s destination

Mansa Musa and MaliMansa Musa and Mali

• During his journey, he introduced his During his journey, he introduced his empire of Mali to the world.empire of Mali to the world.

• As a result of Musa’s As a result of Musa’s pilgrimage, Mali became pilgrimage, Mali became famous throughout famous throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe. Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Mansa Musa and MaliMansa Musa and Mali

• Mansa Musa also stressed the Mansa Musa also stressed the importance of importance of education and learning.education and learning. – He felt it was important to read the He felt it was important to read the

Arabic language. Arabic language.

Mansa Musa and MaliMansa Musa and Mali

• Musa sent scholars to study in Morocco, which Musa sent scholars to study in Morocco, which is in Northwest Africa where the is in Northwest Africa where the Almoravids were from. . – When those scholars came back they set up schools When those scholars came back they set up schools

to study the Qur’an.to study the Qur’an.

A school in Timbuktu

• Timbuktu was a major trading city. Traders came from all over to do business at Timbuktu.

The Fall of MaliThe Fall of Mali

• Main Idea 3:Main Idea 3:– Mali fell to Mali fell to invadersinvaders in the late 1400s. in the late 1400s.

The Fall of MaliThe Fall of Mali

• The empire became so The empire became so largelarge that the that the government could not control it. government could not control it. – Some areas declared their Some areas declared their

independence. independence.– Invaders finally took over Invaders finally took over

almost all the lands of the almost all the lands of the Mali Empire by the 1500s. Mali Empire by the 1500s.