MaliMaliLand of Gold & Land of Gold &

GriotsGriots

A griot of today

gold earrings

mudclot

h

Prepared byPrepared by

Carol AlmarezCarol AlmarezElementary Instructional Elementary Instructional

TechnologyTechnologyAlleghany County Public SchoolsAlleghany County Public Schools

20052005

Sundiata: The Lion KingSundiata: The Lion King Prince of the Mandinka Prince of the Mandinka

people, who were people, who were conquered by cruel Susuconquered by cruel Susu

In 1230, he conquered In 1230, he conquered the Susu peoplethe Susu people

Under Sundiata, Mali Under Sundiata, Mali prospered and became prospered and became very rich by conquring.very rich by conquring.

Died in 1255Died in 1255

Mansa MusaMansa Musa Several kings ruled Several kings ruled

after Sundiata’s deathafter Sundiata’s death

Mansa Musa was Mansa Musa was grandson of Sundiata’s grandson of Sundiata’s half brotherhalf brother

He became the greatest He became the greatest king of Mali in 1312king of Mali in 1312

Under Mansa Musa, Under Mansa Musa, Mali became a great Mali became a great trading center trading center especially with Arabs.especially with Arabs.

MiniFactMiniFact: Mansa means : Mansa means Emperor or KingEmperor or King

Mansa Musa and the HajjMansa Musa and the Hajj Mansa Musa became a devout MuslimMansa Musa became a devout Muslim

Muslims must make a journey to Mecca called a Muslims must make a journey to Mecca called a ‘hajj’‘hajj’

Mansa Musa crossed Africa to reach MeccaMansa Musa crossed Africa to reach Mecca

He took a huge caravan with him in 1324He took a huge caravan with him in 1324

After that, everyone knew aboutAfter that, everyone knew about the wealth of Mali and wanted to expand tradethe wealth of Mali and wanted to expand trade

The Mosque of Mali

The mosque at Djenne in Mali was built with mud bricks. Click for a movie

What did Mali trade?What did Mali trade?

GoldGold

The dotted The dotted

lines are lines are tradetrade

routes fromroutes from

Mali to otherMali to other

parts ofparts of

AfricaAfrica

What else did they trade?What else did they trade?

SaltSalt CopperCopper IvoryIvory ClothCloth

Kola NutsKola Nuts SlavesSlaves BooksBooks Shells Shells

Camels, the ships of the desert, traveled in Camels, the ships of the desert, traveled in caravans bringing to Mali:caravans bringing to Mali:

MiniFactMiniFact: This was before Columbus even : This was before Columbus even sailed to the New World!sailed to the New World!

Why was Salt Important?Why was Salt Important? Mali often traded its gold Mali often traded its gold

for saltfor salt Salt was sometimes Salt was sometimes

more valuable than gold!more valuable than gold! People’s bodies need salt People’s bodies need salt

to liveto live In the desert heat, salt In the desert heat, salt

is lost through is lost through perspirationperspiration

Salt was used to Salt was used to preserve foodpreserve food

Salt was brought in large Salt was brought in large slabs (coins)slabs (coins)

MiniFactMiniFact: The : The picture behind picture behind these words is also these words is also a slab of SALT!a slab of SALT!

The man is holding a slab of salt mined recently near Timbuktu

TimbuktuTimbuktu A very important A very important

city in Malicity in Mali Center of learning Center of learning

for Muslimsfor Muslims Universities and Universities and

schoolsschools Largest trading Largest trading

center in Malicenter in Mali On the Niger On the Niger

RiverRiver TradeTrade FoodFood WashingWashing

Timbuktu

19th century traders in Timbuktu

The GriotsThe Griots Storytellers were Storytellers were

called Griots or djelicalled Griots or djeli They were They were

important people in important people in MaliMali

They told the land’s They told the land’s historyhistory

Most of what we Most of what we know about ancient know about ancient Mali came from the Mali came from the storytellersstorytellers

They were advisors They were advisors to the kingsto the kings

This is a 19th century griot of Mali with his instrument

Mali Mali TodayToday