Transcript Mansa Musa`s Hajj

The Rise of Mali
Section 3
Standard 7.4.3
• Describe the role of trans-Saharan
caravan trade in the changing religious
and cultural characteristics of West Africa
and the influence of Islamic beliefs, ethics,
and law.
Section Focus Question
• How did Mali become a great empire
that reflected the influence of Islam?
Background Knowledge
• Ghana never recovered from the
Almoravid invasion. But a new empire
grew up in the same region. This section,
will cover the growth of the Mali Empire.
As well as the growing influence of Islam
in West Africa.
Empire
of Ghana
The Rise of Mali
• Ghana had ruled many small kingdoms.
After the empire of Ghana fell, these
kingdoms competed for power. The old
caravan routes became dangerous, and
trade suffered.
Sumanguru, the “Sorcerer King”
• In about 1203, Sumanguru took over
what was left of the old empire of
Ghana
• Legend says he was a cruel ruler
and possessed a magical balafon
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taxed his subjects
Stole gold
kidnapped wives and daughters
killed anyone who might challenge his
power.
• Killed 11 of the Malinke king’s 12
sons.
– Sundiata was crippled and left alive
Sundiata, the “Hungering
Lion”
• In 1235, according to oral
histories, Sundiata’s army
crushed Sumanguru forces in a
great battle.
• Legend states that Sundiata
vanquished the evil Sumanguru
by shoting him with an arrow
tipped with the spur of a white
rooster
A New Empire
• Sundiata’s victory marked the beginning of the
new empire of Mali.
– conquered the gold-producing regions
• controlled the gold-salt trade.
– encouraged people to clear more land for farming.
• Sundiata became Mali’s national hero.
• Other rulers continued to expand the empire.
By the 1300s, Mali was about the size of
Western Europe.
Checkpoint
• How did Sundiata gain control of the
gold-salt trade?
A Great Empire
• Mali had become a world
power.
• Traded with Egypt, North
Africa, and the nations of
southern Europe.
– its wealth came from its control
of the gold-salt trade.
A Great Empire
• Mali adopted the religion of Islam.
• Conversion to change religion
– closer ties between Mali and North Africa
that influenced the culture and customs of
Mali.
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
• In 1324, Mansa Musa ,a deeply devout
Muslim, made a hajj
• He set off from Mali in a very splendid
manner
– The king and all his servants, clothed in fine
silks, were accompanied by more than 80
camels carrying heavy bags of gold dust
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
• He spent and gave away too much gold in
Cairo
– he ran out of gold
• He had to borrow money to finish his hajj.
– his spending upset the Egyptian economy
• gold lost much of its value.
• Inflation - a general rise in prices
Islamic Culture in Mali
• Mansa Musa also spent his
wealth to encourage Islamic
learning.
• Brought Egyptian scholars,
artists, and teachers with him.
– As-Saheli designed and built
great mosques in Djenné, Gao,
and Timbuktu
• Timbuktu became a center for
Islamic scholarship and
attracted students and teachers
from North Africa and the
Middle East
Expansion and Exploration
• Mansa Musa ruled Mali for 25 years.
During his long reign, he extended
Mali’s territory north and westward to
the Atlantic Ocean.
• Mali’s rulers may have even tried to
explore beyond Africa.
– King Abubakar II, Mansa Musa older
brother, was said to have built a fleet of
ships to explore the Atlantic Ocean only
one ship returned.
• Then, he sent out an even greater fleet.
The ships set out to sea and were never
seen again.
Ibn Battuta Visits Mali
• In 1352, a Moroccan
diplomat representing the
sultan, Ibn Battuta, spent
several months in Mali
ruled by Mansa Suleiman,
Musa’s brother and
successor
• He was impressed by the
way its people strictly
followed Islam.
Checkpoint
• Why did Mansa Musa travel to Mecca?
Looking Back and Ahead
• We have read about the rise of the Mali
Empire. You also learned about the
growing influence of Islam in West Africa.
In the next chapter, you will learn more
about the cultures of West Africa.