The West

1
The West African kingdom of Mali rose to power as
the West African kingdom of Ghana declined and
collapsed.
2
And like Ghana before it, the West African
kingdom of Mali took control of the Trans-Saharan
trade routes.
3
North African salt
for
West African gold
4
But unlike Ghana, the land of gold with no gold
fields, Mali took control of the gold fields.
Mali truly was the land of gold.
5
The rulers of Mali taxed traders entering and
exiting Mali as well as sold gold from its gold
fields. The kingdom of Mali was phenomenally
wealthy.
6
Mansa Musa was the West African kingdom of Malis
greatest and most significant ruler.
7
Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim. Islam had
entered West Africa along trade routes. To
fulfill the Five Pillars of the Faith, Mansa Musa
took a pilgrimage to Mecca.
8
Mansa Musa expanded his empire, built a great
center for learning in Timbuktu, and made a
pilgrimage to Mecca!
9
Ibn Battuta was a great Arab traveler, much like
Marco Polo. He visited Mansa Musas court and
wrote about his experiences in this land of
wealth.
10
Mansa Musa ruled Mali from 1312-1337.
11
Though Mansa Musa was a superb ruler, his
successors were not as capable.
12
The West African kingdom of Mali declined and
eventually collapsed after the death of Mansa
Musa.
13
The West African kingdom of Songhai replaced Mali
and dominated the salt for gold trade.
14
The Big Five

• How did the West African kingdom of Mali differ
  from the West African kingdom of Ghana?
• Who was Mansa Musa and how did he improve the
  West African kingdom of Mali?
• Why did Mansa Musa take a pilgrimage to Mecca?
• Who was Ibn Battuta and why was he important?
• Why did the West African kingdom of Mali decline?