Imperial Mali

Imperial Mali

Open Ended

Do Now: What is a griot? Explain the role of a griot in West African society.

Djeli Mamoudou Kouyate (Sundiata, an Epic of Old Mali)  

I am a griot...master in the art of eloquence...We are vessels of speech, we are the [storehouses] which harbor secrets many centuries old. . . .

Without us the names of kings would vanish. . . . We are the memory of mankind; by the spoken word we bring to life the deeds . . . of kings for younger generations. . . . For the world is old, but the future springs from the past. 

Open Ended

Name another culture or group of people that relies on oral tradition:

The Manden Charter

• One of the oldest constitutions in the world

• Emphasized important values in the Mali government

• Still influences life and laws in Mali

• Annual ceremonies (pictured) commemorate the charter

The Manden Charter: Key Points

• Social peace, living together despite diversity

• Sanctity of human life

• Freedom of expression

• Mediated disputes and kept the Mali Empire in peace and prosperity

Remember: The Mali Empire

Get ready...

Multiple Choice

"The king of Mali is so rich, he's going on tour to let everyone know."

Name that king:

• Mansa Sundiata

• Mansa Musa

Multiple Choice

On which continent is Mali located?

• South America

• Europe

• Africa

• Asia

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the reason for the Mali Empire's wealth?

• the kings controlled and taxed trading

• the pharaohs sold the pyramids

• the emperors conquered other countries

• the presidents printed their own money

Multiple Choice

What natural resources did Mali trade to become a wealthy empire?

• camels and bronze

• fish and water

• silk and tools

• gold and salt

Multiple Choice

Which city in Mali has a huge library?

• Rome

• Cairo

• Timbuktu

• Athens

Timbuktu

• Annexed and then absorbed by the Mali Empire

• Famous for libraries, mosques, and universities

• Scholars, especially Muslim scholars, came from the East to learn, exchange ideas, and study the Quran.

Mali on the Map

• Mansa Musa Keita I's hajj to Mecca caught the attention of the world.

• Timbuktu's success was directly related to Mansa Musa's government

Poll

Do you think Mansa Musa's hajj was...

• A true pilgrimage, and the gold he gave away was part of the Fourth Pillar, almsgiving.

• A parade of wealth and riches, and he just happened to give to charity and build mosques along the way.

Traveling Safely

• Mali and the surrounding areas were generally safe for Muslim travelers

• Crime was uncommon; most people minded their own business

• Travel within Africa was done by camel, or by boat down the Niger river.

Ibn Battuta says...

They are seldom unjust, and have a greater abhorrence of injustice than any other people. Their sultan shows no mercy to anyone who is guilty of the least act of it. There is complete security in their country. Neither traveler nor inhabitant in it has anything to fear from robbers. 

Poll

Do you think that the locals having a common religion (Islam) with travelers helped keep crime down?

• Yes

• No

Open Ended

Tell me why (or why not) you think that the locals having a common religion with travelers helped to keep crime low.

Mali in Decline

• Families fought over the crown, causing civil war

• Now that nearby kingdoms have gold, too, Mali is not so powerful

• Trade is picking up, competition gets fierce

~1500 CE

Portuguese explorers begin to skip the Mediterranean routes and sail around the tip of Africa (pictured) to reach the spice islands, and start setting up trading ports way outside their jurisdiction...

Here Lies the Mali Empire

and here rises the Songhay empire...