1. Mali Question # 3 Why do you think salt is important?

2. I. Mali
1230 to 1255 the great warrior king Sundiata Keita “the Lion Prince” conquered Ghana.
Seized the capital of Ghana in 1240.
He controlled lands from the Atlantic coast to the trading city of Timbuktu.
He was able to rebuild the gold and salt trade.

3. A. Mansa Musa
Leader of Mali who used the wealth of Mali to build mosques and libraries to collect books from all over the Muslim world.
1324 Mansa Musa makes a famous pilgrimage to Mecca.
While in Mecca, convinced some of Islam’s finest architects, teachers, and writers, to accompany him back to Mail-this helped spread Islam in West Africa.
After Mansa Musa’s death in 1332 the kings that failed to stop Berber invaders who conquered Timbuktu.

4. B. The Griots Storytellers were called Griots or djeli
They were important people in Mali
They told the land’s history
Most of what we know about ancient Mali came from the storytellers
They were advisors to the kings
This is a 19th century griot of Mali with his instrument

5. C. Why was Salt Important?
Mali often traded its gold for salt
Salt was sometimes more valuable than gold!
People’s bodies need salt to live
In the desert heat, salt is lost through perspiration
Salt was used to preserve food
Salt was brought in large slabs (coins)
The man is holding a slab of salt mined recently near Timbuktu
MiniFact: The picture behind these words is also a slab of SALT!

6. D. Timbuktu A very important city in Mali
Center of learning for Muslims
Universities and schools
Largest trading center in Mali
On the Niger River
Trade
Food
Washing
Timbuktu
19th century traders in Timbuktu

7. What did Mali trade? Gold The dotted lines are trade routes from
Mali to other
parts of
Africa

8. What else did they trade?
Camels, the ships of the desert, traveled in caravans bringing to Mali:
Salt
Copper
Ivory
Cloth
Kola Nuts
Slaves
Books
Shells
MiniFact: This was before Columbus even sailed to the New World!

9. Mali Today