1. Mali
A Story In Pictures

2. The nation was called Mali.
Mali became a legendary empire- a place of power and great wealth!

3. The Country Of Mali Mali is located in western Africa.
Many people think the outline of the country looks like a “toilet.”
A variety of regions can be found in west Africa.

4. Regions Of West Africa The region farthest north is the Sahara Desert.
South of the Sahara is a region called the Sahel. (this is much like a desert, but with more grasses)
Below the Sahel is the savanna, a large grassland.
South of the savanna is the rainforest region.

5. Salt was mined in the deserts of the Sahara.
The Sahara Desert
Salt was mined in the deserts of the Sahara.

6. The Niger River
The Niger River runs through the Empire of Mali, and brings water for drinking.
The Niger River also gave farmers plenty of good soil called, SILT, in which to grow their crops.

7. Buildings were created from sun dried mud made from sand.
Architecture in Mali
Buildings were created from sun dried mud made from sand.

8. A king was called a MANSA.
The mansas became rich and powerful kings. They collected taxes from the citizens of their empire.
Sundiata, better known as the “Lion King,” saved Mali and brought back peace. Under his rule, Mali became rich.
Mansa Musa, another great king, helped Mali grow in size. He was known as, “the King of Africa.”

9. Camels Camels were Mali’s treasures.
They helped make Mali rich, because they carried the GRAND cargo.
Camels preparing to make their slow, steady way across the Sahara loaded down with goods on their way to the great markets.
Camels carrying Mali’s finest treasures.

10. A camel caravan
A caravan is a group of camels that travel together carrying goods.
They were often traveling to trade centers.
Camels were the trucks and trains of Mali often bringing goods from far away lands to trade. However, camels were well adapted for life in the desert. They have special eyes and feet, and they can drink lots of water at a time!

11. A griot was a storyteller.
Most of Mali’s history was told as stories. Griots often told stories using music and dance.
“The instrument that I play is called a KORA. I strum the strings like a guitar.”

12. I am a griot. I am a teller of stories, and a singer of songs.
I am the keeper of memories and laws.
I am the teacher of kings and children.
I hold the whole story of my country in my head and in my heart. I want to share it with you!

13. A Mud Cloth
Each piece of mud cloth tells a story. No two pieces are alike and each pattern or color combination has a meaning. The symbols used, their color and shape, as well as the arrangement reveal the secrets of the story.

14. More Mud Cloths Adding the symbols to the cloth.
A completed “mud cloth”

15. Salt Salt was mined in the Sahara.
The slabs were loaded onto camels and sent to trading centers.

16. Miners mining salt.
These are slabs of salt ready to be exported by camels to a trading center.

17. Trading Routes in Mali

18. Off to TIMBUKTU!

19. Timbuktu
Mali citizens on their way to the markets in Timbuktu to trade their goods.

20. Malians trade their goods at the markets.
Trading in Timbuktu
Malians trade their goods at the markets.

21. Religion
The people of Mali were “Muslims” and followed the ways of ISLAM, their religion. The worshipped at temples called “mosques.”

22. Mecca
Mansa Musa, a famous king, took the Islam religion very seriously. One thing they wanted every Muslim to do was to journey to Mecca once in his or her lifetime. Mecca is a holy city in Saudi Arabia. The journey, called a hajj, was a trip that was more than 3,000 miles from Mali. Can you imagine riding a camel that far?