Empire of Mali

Africa Geography – Not very mountainous. Mostly plateaus and deserts. Although Mt. Kilimanjaro can have snow all year round. Tropical Rainforests along the equator. Sahara Desert in the North. Cultural Geography – People often speak of 2 Africas. North Africa and Sub-Saharan (or Black) Africa

Sundjata

Mali Empire Sundiata was a powerful warrior-king that built the Mali Empire. An empire is large political unit or state, usually under a single leader, that controls many peoples or territories. Under the leadership of Sundiata, Mali was able to control many smaller kingdoms.

These kingdoms would give slaves and money or supplies to Mali. Mali then kept a large army to keep all the kingdoms in line and protect all the trade routes. Mali controlled the gold trade and the salt trade. Mali made lots of money off taxes on the trade routes.

Artists’ rendition of Mansa Musa

Mansa Musa Mansa Musa was the most famous ruler of Mali. He was a great leader. He divided the empire into smaller parts each governed by a mayor. He is most famous for his hajj. The Hajj is the journey to Mecca that all Muslims are supposed to make.

Mansa Musa’s Hajj

There were as many as 60,000 people, slaves, soldiers, etc. that accompanied Mansa Musa on his hajj. He is said to have brought thousands of pounds of gold with him. He gave away so much gold in Egypt, the price of gold dropped for years afterwards

The effect of Mansa Musa’s hajj was to make everyone aware of the Mali Empire. He leaves such an impression of power that Mali is put on world maps. Also, he brought back Muslim architects and scholars to Mali. They built great buildings and a university that people would travel to from all over the world.

Mosque in Djenne, Mali