THe Mali Empire
Like Ghana, Mali was built from its wealth from gold. It was a kingdom by 1235. Ghana weakened and the people it had previously conquered began to be more independent. Also, people found more gold east. This shifted the trade routes east, and made the Mali rich, who were more eastward than the Ghana.
The first leaders of Mali were cruel and unpopular. Sundiata became Mali's first great leader by taking power from the crueler leaders. He became the "mansa" or emperor. He was also a great military leader. He overtook the trading cities of Kumbi and Walata as well as the Ghana empire. He put administrators in charge of money, defense, and foreign affairs. He also promoted agriculture and restarted the gold-salt trade.
Sundiata died in 1255. The next rulers of the Mali empire were muslim. They build mosques, attended public prayers, and they also supported the preachings of Muslim holy men. Among the most famous was Mansa Musa, who ruled from 1312 to 1332. Mansa Musa was a skilled military leader who controlled the gold-salt trade and put down every rebellion. His 100,000 man army kept Mali safe from attack. His empire expanded twice its size under his rule. He divided the empire,that was to big to rule under one person, into provinces, and assigned governors.
As part of his faith, he went to Mecca from 1324 to 1325. He returned and ordered to mosques to be built at Timbuktu and Gao, trading cities. Timbuktu attracted Muslim judges, doctors, religious leaders, and scholars. They wanted to visit its mosques and universities.
The first leaders of Mali were cruel and unpopular. Sundiata became Mali's first great leader by taking power from the crueler leaders. He became the "mansa" or emperor. He was also a great military leader. He overtook the trading cities of Kumbi and Walata as well as the Ghana empire. He put administrators in charge of money, defense, and foreign affairs. He also promoted agriculture and restarted the gold-salt trade.
Sundiata died in 1255. The next rulers of the Mali empire were muslim. They build mosques, attended public prayers, and they also supported the preachings of Muslim holy men. Among the most famous was Mansa Musa, who ruled from 1312 to 1332. Mansa Musa was a skilled military leader who controlled the gold-salt trade and put down every rebellion. His 100,000 man army kept Mali safe from attack. His empire expanded twice its size under his rule. He divided the empire,that was to big to rule under one person, into provinces, and assigned governors.
As part of his faith, he went to Mecca from 1324 to 1325. He returned and ordered to mosques to be built at Timbuktu and Gao, trading cities. Timbuktu attracted Muslim judges, doctors, religious leaders, and scholars. They wanted to visit its mosques and universities.
A historian and traveler called Ibn Battuta came to Mali in 1352. He traveled 27 years, visiting the countries of the Islamic world. He visited Timbuktu and other cities in the Mali empire. Mali's justice system greatly impressed him.
He left Mali in 1352. By 1402, Mali started to weaken. Most of the new rulers could not govern well. The gold trade also shifted eastward as new stores of gold were found.
He left Mali in 1352. By 1402, Mali started to weaken. Most of the new rulers could not govern well. The gold trade also shifted eastward as new stores of gold were found.