During the 13th and 14th centuries, it was the Mali Empire, also known as the Manden Kurufa, stood as West Africa’s eminent civilization. It was twice as big as any European Empire of its time, being roughly as large as the whole of Western Europe. But, like all other empires, it met its own fate. We will be exploring the epic story of this empire, from its rise to its fall.
Who were the people of Mali Empire: The Mali Empire comprised of many different African Ethnic Groups. Much of their original population was constituted by Mandé peoples (more specifically, the Malinka Peoples). But they also comprised of peoples that came from their vassal kingdoms.
Geography: The Mali Empire dominated much of North-West Africa (as seen in the picture) and is just South of the Sahara Desert. The Mali Empire was mostly Savannah but due to the Sahara Desert being in close proximity to it, it became dryer up north and more fertile to the south (the south was near the Niger River). The area it encompassed during it’s height at 1312 was near 1.29 million square kilometers.
The capital of the Mali Empire was the city of Niani.
Nowadays, the Mali Empire is part of Mali, Senegal, Niger, Ghana, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Guinea and many other countries in North-West Africa.
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Birth: Before the Mali Empire ever began, it was a Kingdom in Mali that was near the Empire of Ghana. In 1234, the new king by the name of Sundiata lead Mali’s Mandinka Kingdom through an audacious revolt against the dominant Ghana Empire. A year later, Sundiata won a decisive victory at the battle of Kirina against the King of Ghana, Sumangaru. From thereafter, the Mali Empire would supplant the Ghana Empire as the dominant power of West Africa.
Rise: Ever since it’s...
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...ed at around 1610. Oral traditions say his 3 sons would engage in a struggle for the throne. The battle for succession was to none’s avail and the Mali Empire never saw a Mansa again. It would split into chiefdoms in the 1700s.
What of them today: Nowadays, the Mali Empire is part of many places in Africa that are unfortunately poor. While not much of the Mali Empire remains physically intact, famous sites like the University of Timbuktu remain and many objects from the Mali Empire have been excavated.
In a sense, the Mali Empire lives to this day though. Griots continue to tell of the epic events that occurred in the Mali Empire and the Empire continues to inspire pride from many Malian people.
The Mali Empire was all in all, one of Africa’s most successful civilizations, maintaining dominance longer the preceding Ghana Empire and the succeeding Songhai Empire.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the mali empire, also known as the manden kurufa, stood as west africa's eminent civilization during the 13th and 14th centuries.
- Explains that the mali empire consisted of many different african ethnic groups, including the mandé peoples and the malinka peoples.
- Explains that the mali empire dominated much of north-west africa and is just south of the sahara desert.
- Explains that the mali empire, also known as the manden kurufa, stood as west africa's eminent civilization during the 13th and 14th centuries.
- Explains that the mali empire consisted of many different african ethnic groups, including the mandé peoples and the malinka peoples.
- Explains that the mali empire dominated much of north-west africa and is just south of the sahara desert.
- Explains that before the mali empire began, the mandinka kingdom was near the empire of ghana.
- Explains that the mali empire conquered senegal, guinea, niger, and abroad. its apogee was achieved by mansa musa in 1312.
- Explains that the mali empire thrived off of a monopoly of gold and salt after seizing the major gold mines of bambuk, bondou, and bure as well as many other salt deposits to the north.
- Explains that the mali empire was able to trade through water as well as on land through the use of porters, caravans and camels. this gave them a significant advantage against other landlocked regions.
- Explains that although there was no common currency in the mali empire up until the introduction of cowry shells, there were many types of currencies used for trade.
- Explains that the southern portion of the mali empire had fertile soil near the niger river. this soil was used to grow beans, rice, millet, papaya, gourds, peanuts and livestock to sustain the population.
- Explains that most people were farmers, miners, traders, soldiers, and upper-class noblemen. they were muslim or believed in traditional west-african religions, but rulers allowed for religious freedom.
- Explains that griots were important to the people of mali empire. they taught people about music, poetry, stories, genealogies, and history with music and art accompanying the story-telling process.
- Explains that the succession of powerful mansas that ruled the empire was instrumental towards the success of the mali empire.
- Explains that the collapse of the mali empire was not sudden but rather a prolonged decline.
- Opines that the mali empire is part of many places in africa that are unfortunately poor. while not much of the empire remains physically intact, famous sites like the university of timbuktu remain and many objects from the
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- Explains that the british empire prevailed in africa and was fueled by the same economic reasons for which the industrial revolution began.
- Concludes that the scramble for africa was the spawn of typical imperialist greediness or necessity from the industrial revolution, but that it shaped the continent and greatly contributed to its state today.
933 wordsRead More - Sundiata: An Epic of Old Malianalytical essayThe great Machiavelli once said, "Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times." Indeed, the study of history is important as history does seem to repeat itself. Many people in today's society learn about the past from textbooks and other books, as these are of easy access. Is this really the best way to learn about the past? The people of ancient Africa did not think so, as they had special people called "griots"who passed the people's traditions and history down orally from generation to generation. One such griot, Mamadou Kouyate, recalls the story of the most famous ruler in African history, Sundiata, in D.T. Niane's book Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali. This book has become an entertaining, yet scrutinized, source about the history of Mali and it's surrounding areas. Much scrutiny of this tale comes from those who question the validity of the griots, though Mamadou Kouyate is quick to point out that "[His] word is pure and free of all untruth; it is the word of [his] father...griots do not know what lying is" (Niane 1). If the context of the epic is true, then there are many valuable things to be learned from it including the traditions and customs of ancient Africa, and how Sundiata came to rule over such a large area. Based upon a reading of the text, it is easy to see that Sundiata's political power was not based soley on religion, as he used many conventional methods to gain and remain in power.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the study of history is important as history does seem to repeat itself. many people in today's society learn about the past from textbooks and other books.
- Explains that sundiata used alliances to gain political power before he was born. the people of ancient mali respected the "soothsayers" who foretold the future greatly.
- Analyzes how the prince's friendships grew into alliances when he was an adult, which helped him defeat soumaoro and become mansa.
- Opines that the study of history is important as history does seem to repeat itself. many people in today's society learn about the past from textbooks and other books.
- Explains that sundiata used alliances to gain political power before he was born. the people of ancient mali respected the "soothsayers" who foretold the future greatly.
- Analyzes how the prince's friendships grew into alliances when he was an adult, which helped him defeat soumaoro and become mansa.
- Explains that sundiata's alliances with neighboring princes proved vital in the military aspect of conquering.
- Analyzes how sundiata used intelligence to gain power. he aligned his troops in a square formation that allowed them to win decisive battles against soumaoro's forces.
- Analyzes the flaws in the theory that sundiata's power was based soley on religion, namely islam.
- Analyzes how the griots of ancient africa are sincere in their efforts to consistently pass down their countries' histories, including mamadou kouyate's words about sundiata and ancient mali.
1008 wordsRead More - Sundiata Analysisanalytical essaySundiata developed into a great leader of Mali through hardships, religion, and core/tributary/periphery relationships of states. The djeli who transmitted this information to the translators, is also a manifestation of an institution important in Sundiata’s epic, because without djelis these stories would be lost forever. Sundiata learned about the formation, running and maintenance of African states through interactions with the communities he was introduced to.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that sundiata recounts a historical event while teaching various african ideologies.
- Explains that storytelling has a special importance in culture throughout the african continent; anansi the spider in ghana is one great example of an african fable.
- Analyzes how the epic of sundiata depicts an african state that relies heavily on superstition, sacrifices, and sorcerers.
- Explains that sundiata recounts a historical event while teaching various african ideologies.
- Explains that storytelling has a special importance in culture throughout the african continent; anansi the spider in ghana is one great example of an african fable.
- Analyzes how the epic of sundiata depicts an african state that relies heavily on superstition, sacrifices, and sorcerers.
- Analyzes how sundiata's ultimate goal was to regain his place as king and expand the kingdom to mali to new lengths.
- Explains that although saumaoro ruled through cruelty and fear, kings from neighboring kingdoms like ghana paid him tribute to remain in good favor with him.
- Analyzes how the epic of sundiata utilizes both traditional ancestral religions as well as islam, stating that islam was transmitted to west africa by the original followers of mohammad.
- Analyzes how sundiata developed into a great leader of mali through hardships, religion, and core/tributary/periphery relationships. the djeli who transmitted this information to the translators is also an institution important in his epic.
- Analyzes how sundiata realized that living under the command of a morally bankrupt ruler would never lead to the vast empire that he was capable of creating out of mali.
966 wordsRead More