History

• The Mali kingdom was in the western part of Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. It stretched across West Africa to the Atlantic Ocean. Mali was at the height of its power in the 14th century (1300 – 1399)
• The Niger River, which is over 4000km long, flowed through the Mali Empire
• People travelled long distances between Mali, North Africa, Europe and the Middle East in order to trade
• Camel caravans


  • Means of transport across the Sahara Desert
  • Camels can carry heavy loads, including people and goods
  • Camels have broad, flat, leathery pads under each foot to stop the foot from sliding and sinking into the sand
  • Camels have long eyelashes and bushy eyebrows to protect their eyes during sandstorms
  • Camels have large nostrils which open and close to trap water vapour which returns to their bodies
  • Camels have thick fur to cope with harsh weather conditions and changes in body temperature

  
• Traders travelled across the Sahara Desert in camel caravans so they would be safe from attack by robbers
• Goods traded in the 14th century

  • Rugs
  • Swords
  • Daggers
  • Glass
  • Spices
  • Dyes
  • Cloth
  • Beads
  • Gold
  • Slaves
  • Ivory
  • Salt
  • Ostrich feathers
• Mali was rich in gold, which was in great demand in Europe and the Middle East
• Salt was brought from the salt-rich village of Taghaza, to Mali
• Islam


  • Religion that started in the Middle East in the 7th century and was brought to West Africa by Arab Muslim traders from the 9th century
  • Muslims believe there is only one God, called Allah
  • Muhammad was a significant Prophet in the Islamic faith
  • The holy book of Islam is the Koran
  • The language of the Koran is Arabic
  • The Koran encourages the followers of Islam to spread their religion
  • The building where Muslims worship is called a mosque
  • Muslims must recite prayers, called Salah, five times a day
  • Muslims are required to give a fixed portion of their wealth to help the poor or needy, and also to assist the spread of Islam (Zakat)
• Many West Africans converted to Islam because it enabled them to get better prices when trading with other Muslims and gave them the chance to read and write
• By 1300 the kings of Mali became Muslims and Mansa Musa even made Islam the state religion in the Kingdom of Mali, but still allowed religious freedom
• Sources


  • Material sources or artefacts (objects made by people and studied by archaeologists)
  • Written sources (books, newspapers and letters)
  • Visual sources (photographs, maps and drawings)
  • Oral sources (stories told by people, songs and poems passed on to other people)
• Mansa Musa ruled Mali between 1312 and 1337 and under him Mali reached the height of its power
• Mansa Musa


  • Encouraged people to grow cotton, beans, rice and onions and to mine gold
  • Divided his empire into provinces, each ruled by a governor
  • Funded the building of mosques, centres of learning and libraries
  • Set up a more efficient and stable system of government
  • Maintained power through taxes on imports and exports
  • Had friendly relationships with other neighbouring African states
  • Employed judges, scribes and civil servants to strengthen control of the large empire
  • Had a strong army to keep order so traders and travellers could move about safely
• Under Mansa Musa there was economic prosperity, with Mali also trading in kola nuts and using cowrie shells as a form of money
• Pilgrimage


  A religious journey to a holy place, in this case Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324-1325
• Mansa Musa travelled with 60,000 soldiers, officials, merchants, servants and slaves as well as a caravan of about 80 camels, each carrying gifts and about 150kg of gold
• Mansa Musa gave away large amounts of gold to the poor he met along his journey, causing the price of gold to fall in Cairo and take a few years to recover
• Mansa Musa brought back scholars, architects and books to Mali, helping to make his empire a centre of learning
• Mansa Musa spent so much money in Egypt that the price of gold fell in Cairo and took a few years to recover
• Wherever he stopped on a Friday, he paid for a mosque to be built
• Mansa Musa became so famous that, for the first time ever, Mali appeared on maps throughout the Middle East and Europe
• He brought back scholars, architects and books back to Mali
• The scholars helped to make his empire a centre of learning
• Pilgrimage


  A journey, especially a long one, made to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion
• Mansa Musa had prepared carefully for the long journey he and his servants would take
• Mansa Musa was determined to travel not only for his own religious fulfilment, but also to bring back teachers and leaders, so that his kingdom could learn more of the Prophet's teachings
• When Mansa Musa returned to Mali from his pilgrimage to Mecca, he ordered a new mosque to be built in the city of Timbuktu
• The Djingareyber Mosque is a magnificent building, with two minarets
• Minaret


  The spire or steeple on a mosque
• Husks


  The dry part covering seeds on a plant
• Decays


  Breaks down
• There was enough space inside the Djingareyber Mosque for 2 000 Muslims to pray facing East towards the holy city of Mecca
• The Great Mosque in the city of Djenne is the largest structure in the world to be made entirely out of mud
• Both the Djingareyber Mosque and the Great Mosque in Djenne were declared World Heritage Sites in 1988
• World Heritage Site


  A natural or historical site, area or structure which has international importance and needs special protection
• Timbuktu was founded in 1100 CE, as a resting camp, and became part of the Mali Empire in the early 13th century
• Mansa Musa made Timbuktu his capital city
• In the Golden Age of Mali, the town became the centre of learning as well as a centre of trade
• Timbuktu occupied an important position at the end of the camel caravan route and was near several big salt mines