THE MALI EMPIRE -DAY 19
ude precious@preciousude984709
1 day ago
#neighbors
Hi lovelies. Today,we will be taking a book tour to one of the oldest and largest empires in West Africa: The Mali Empire. we are going to visit an old site that stands in connection to this Empire, This is an old ruin of Timbuktu, the richest city of The Mali Empire.But to understand our site ; what do we know of ancient Mali.
The Mail Empire emerged between the 11th- 12th century, after the decline of the Ghana empire and ruled from the 13th-17th century. it's founder and first ruler: Sundiata keita, a warrior prince was said to have freed his people from the grasp of Soumaoro Kante, king of the Sosso Empire.This subsequently led to the emergence of Mali as a major power with major cities like Timbuktu, Gao and Niana- as it's capital.
The Mali Empire siezed access to all trade routes between West Africa through the savannah to North Africa where it traded primarily in gold and slaves. Another contributing factor to it's great wealth was it's strategic location between Gold mines and Niger River plains.
Mansa Musa, one of the wealthiest emperors of the Mali Empire is known to have planned an elaborate pilgrimage through Sudan and Egypt to mecca with Gold. This is said to have spread their influence further.
The Mali Empire began to fall in the 17th century ( 1460's ) with the out break of civil wars and opening of trade routes elsewhere. The first to achieve independence from the Mali are the wolof of Senegal. In 1430 Nomadic tuareg seized Timbuktu (our site). A small but united group now occupied the richest city in ancient Mali and one of it's major sources of wealth. Rebellion in Gao led to the rise of Songhai (once a vessel state to Mali), in 1465 this state conquered mema, one of Mali's oldest possession.
In 1542 Songhai invaded the capital but was unsuccessful in conquering the empire. Afterwards the Mali Empire rapidly integrated and was replaced by chiefdoms.
Did you Know?
- Mali Empire spread from the Atlantic coast to the central Sahara desert.
- In C. 1285, Soukoura a former court slave became Emperor and was one of Mali's most powerful rulers.
- Mali Empire traded in Gold dust, salt, copper and silver. it's Major religion was Islam.
- Only Mongol Empire ( china ) and the Russian Empire exceeded Mali in size.
would you like to know where the Mali Empire is today?, well, It is spread across Mordern day Mali, Senegal,Gambia, Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso.
So you see lovelies, that our site tells a story about the Great Mali Empire of West Africa of which it was a part of.
I hope you enjoyed the tour I sure did.
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