The Empires of Mali and The Empires of Mali and SonghaiSonghai

I.I. Mali Builds on Ghana’s Mali Builds on Ghana’s FoundationFoundation

AA. Sundiata- chief of the . Sundiata- chief of the Malinke people.Malinke people.

Establishes Mali and Establishes Mali and pushes its borders pushes its borders through Ghana and through Ghana and beyond.beyond.

Opens up gold for salt Opens up gold for salt trade and expands trade and expands trade roots.trade roots.

Mali continued: Sundiata

Established TimbuktuEstablished Timbuktu Location - Niger Location - Niger

RiverRiver Important for IslamImportant for Islam

Supported growing of Supported growing of food crops and cotton.food crops and cotton.

Mixed traditional Mixed traditional beliefs with Islam.beliefs with Islam.

Map of MaliMap of Mali

I.I. Mali Builds on Ghana’s Mali Builds on Ghana’s Foundation (continued)Foundation (continued)

A.A. Rise of Mansa MusaRise of Mansa Musa 1307- Mali’s most 1307- Mali’s most

famous ruler comes to famous ruler comes to power, Mansa Musa.power, Mansa Musa.

Was Muslim, but Was Muslim, but allowed his followers allowed his followers to practice their own to practice their own religions.religions.

Name means King Name means King Moses.Moses.

Mansa Musa

PilgrimagePilgrimage As a Muslim, Mansa Musa made the Hajj. He As a Muslim, Mansa Musa made the Hajj. He

arrived in Mecca and brought with him:arrived in Mecca and brought with him: 12,000 slaves, 80 camels, 300 pounds of 12,000 slaves, 80 camels, 300 pounds of

gold.gold. In front of him on the pilgrimage, he had In front of him on the pilgrimage, he had

500 slaves dressed in silk, carrying gold 500 slaves dressed in silk, carrying gold staffs.staffs.

IIII. Decline of Mali. Decline of Mali

A. Internal ProblemsA. Internal Problems When Mansa Musa died, When Mansa Musa died,

family argued over who family argued over who was next in line.was next in line.

Newly conquered regions Newly conquered regions began to rebel.began to rebel.

In East, Songhai people In East, Songhai people gained strength.gained strength.

In 1325, Mali captured In 1325, Mali captured Songhai city of Gao.Songhai city of Gao.

40 years later, Gao was 40 years later, Gao was independent of Maliindependent of Mali

B.External problems

• Beber nomads came from the North and Eventually captured Timbuktu.

•In the south, bandits raid caravans and military outposts.

•By 1500, Mali had been pushed back into it’s original borders, no longer a strong empire.

III.III. The Empire of Songhai The Empire of Songhai

AA. Songhai expands. Songhai expands Berbers controlled the city of Berbers controlled the city of

Timbuktu since 1433.Timbuktu since 1433. In 1468, Muslim leaders asked the In 1468, Muslim leaders asked the

Songhai king, Sunni Ali, to Songhai king, Sunni Ali, to overthrow the Berbers.overthrow the Berbers.

Ali does, killing many people and Ali does, killing many people and taking control of Timbuktu.taking control of Timbuktu.

Gets a reputation as a powerful Gets a reputation as a powerful king who rules harshly.king who rules harshly.

Conquered neighboring land like Conquered neighboring land like Djenne, after 7 year siege.Djenne, after 7 year siege.

III.III. The Empire of Songhai The Empire of Songhai (continued)(continued)

BB. Askia Muhammad. Askia Muhammad Empire expanded greatly Empire expanded greatly

under Sunni Ali’s rule.under Sunni Ali’s rule. When he died in 1492, his When he died in 1492, his

son was declared ruler.son was declared ruler. Askia Muhammad wanted to Askia Muhammad wanted to

seize the crown though.seize the crown though. Felt that Sunni Ali did not Felt that Sunni Ali did not

practice Islam the right way.practice Islam the right way. A year later, Askia defeated A year later, Askia defeated

Sunni Ali’s son and become Sunni Ali’s son and become ruler.ruler.

III.III. The Empire of Songhai The Empire of Songhai (continued)(continued)

C.C. Askia’s Organization Askia’s Organization Greatest achievement was Greatest achievement was

organizing the government.organizing the government. Divided empire into provinces.Divided empire into provinces. Put a governor in charge of each Put a governor in charge of each

province.province. Had directors of finance, Had directors of finance,

agriculture, army, and navy.agriculture, army, and navy. Set up a system of organized tax Set up a system of organized tax

collection.collection. Spread Islam throughout the Spread Islam throughout the

empire using scholars.empire using scholars. In rural areas, traditional beliefs In rural areas, traditional beliefs

were still mixed with Islam.were still mixed with Islam.

Example of mixing beliefs..Example of mixing beliefs..

III.III. The Empire of Songhai The Empire of Songhai (continued)(continued)

DD. Songhai Falls. Songhai Falls Askia Muhammad’s son would Askia Muhammad’s son would

eventually remove his father from the eventually remove his father from the throne.throne.

He was followed by a series of weak He was followed by a series of weak rulers.rulers.

1580’s- Moroccans take over the salt 1580’s- Moroccans take over the salt mines.mines.

1591- Moroccans take over Timbuktu 1591- Moroccans take over Timbuktu and Gao.and Gao.

Empire collapsedEmpire collapsed Even with the fall of the Empire, Even with the fall of the Empire,

those Africans who live in kinship those Africans who live in kinship groups will live much the same as groups will live much the same as they had before or during the empire.they had before or during the empire.

Gallery WalkGallery Walk

With a partner, walk around the room and With a partner, walk around the room and answer these questions by looking at the answer these questions by looking at the placards up on the wall.placards up on the wall.