Section 2BMali

Mali•A.D. 1240: Ancient Ghana was part of Mali

•Became a trading country

Mali•A.D. 1240: Ancient Ghana was part of Mali

•Location…allowed people to control

trade on the Niger River•Empire grew rich and powerful

Sundiata Keita• “Hungering Lion”• 1230s conquered near kingdoms

including Ghana (1240)• Reestablished salt/gold trade• Worked to improve agriculture;

introduced new crop….COTTON

Sundiata Keita• Organized army• Divided kingdom into provinces• Began calling himself Mansa (“mansa” was the

name of local rulers under Ghana’s control)• Sundiata became a political and religious

leader• Being a religious leader (not Muslim) gave him

more power• Moved capital around to strengthen ties to

people• Died in 1255

Mansa Musa•“King Moses I”•A.D. 1312-1337•Mali reached its height – wealth,

power, fame (A.D. 1324)•Added many trade cities - Timbuktu•Muslim•Grand Pilgrimage – religious

journey

Mansa Musa’s Pilgrimage•Took 14 months

•Covered 3000 miles•12,000 servants (each had 4 lb. gold bar)

•Gave away large sums of gold

Mansa Musa’s Influence•Became Muslim

•Brought Spanish architect and Islamic scholars back to Mali

•Built university in Timbuktu•Built mosques in Gao and

Timbuktu•Mali grew to largest extent

Mansa Musa’s Influence•Brought foreign attention to

Mali•Soon European countries will

want to control the resources of Mali

Weak kings ruled Mali from A.D. 1340-1400

Songhai

Songhai•By late 1300’s Mali faced attack from the East

•Songhai lived along Niger River

•Became largest of these three trading countries

Sonni Ali•Sultan in A.D. 1464•Ruled from Gao•Large army and navy

Askia Muhammed•Extended empire to greatest extent

•1500’s – Timbuktu had 50,000 people

•Timbuktu became center of learning and trade

Government•Divided into provinces•Used same weights and measures

•Only members of ruling Songhai could become political leaders or join calvary

Decline•1591 – Songhai came under attack by Moroccan troops armed with guns

•French controlled Mali in 1800’s

French OccupationWhy did French

want Mali?1. Supply raw materials2. Prove they were a world power

Mali Under French Control•Army set up forts along

Senegal River to protect trade

•Built railroads•Put gunboats on Niger River

•Attempted to make treaties with locals; took by force if they did not cooperate

•Allowed Africans to rule over each area

•Did not educate children•Did not allow Africans to make decisions

•Forced Africans to work and go to war

•Did educate leadersWhy did the French

educate some Africans (but not all)?

Plan Backfired!•African leaders began to resist French rule!

•September 1960, Mali became an independent nation