The Empires of Mali and Songhai

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The Empires of Mali and Songhai
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I. Mali Builds on Ghanas Foundation

• A. Sundiata- chief of the Malinke people.
• Establishes Mali and pushes its borders through
  Ghana and beyond.
• Opens up gold for salt trade and expands trade
  roots.

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Mali continued Sundiata

• Established Timbuktu
• Location - Niger River
• Important for Islam
• Supported growing of food crops and cotton.
• Mixed traditional beliefs with Islam.

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Map of Mali
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I. Mali Builds on Ghanas Foundation (continued)

• Rise of Mansa Musa
• 1307- Malis most famous ruler comes to power,
  Mansa Musa.
• Was Muslim, but allowed his followers to practice
  their own religions.
• Name means King Moses.

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Mansa Musa

• Pilgrimage
• As a Muslim, Mansa Musa made the Hajj. He
  arrived in Mecca and brought with him
• 12,000 slaves, 80 camels, 300 pounds of gold.
• In front of him on the pilgrimage, he had 500
  slaves dressed in silk, carrying gold staffs.

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II. Decline of Mali

• A. Internal Problems
• When Mansa Musa died, family argued over who was
  next in line.
• Newly conquered regions began to rebel.
• In East, Songhai people gained strength.
• In 1325, Mali captured Songhai city of Gao.
• 40 years later, Gao was independent of Mali

• B.External problems
• Beber nomads came from the North and Eventually
  captured Timbuktu.
• In the south, bandits raid caravans and military
  outposts.
• By 1500, Mali had been pushed back into its
  original borders, no longer a strong empire.

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III. The Empire of Songhai

• A. Songhai expands
• Berbers controlled the city of Timbuktu since
  1433.
• In 1468, Muslim leaders asked the Songhai king,
  Sunni Ali, to overthrow the Berbers.
• Ali does, killing many people and taking control
  of Timbuktu.
• Gets a reputation as a powerful king who rules
  harshly.
• Conquered neighboring land like Djenne, after 7
  year siege.

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III. The Empire of Songhai (continued)

• B. Askia Muhammad
• Empire expanded greatly under Sunni Alis rule.
• When he died in 1492, his son was declared ruler.
• Askia Muhammad wanted to seize the crown though.
• Felt that Sunni Ali did not practice Islam the
  right way.
• A year later, Askia defeated Sunni Alis son and
  become ruler.

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III. The Empire of Songhai (continued)

• C. Askias Organization
• Greatest achievement was organizing the
  government.
• Divided empire into provinces.
• Put a governor in charge of each province.
• Had directors of finance, agriculture, army, and
  navy.
• Set up a system of organized tax collection.
• Spread Islam throughout the empire using
  scholars.
• In rural areas, traditional beliefs were still
  mixed with Islam.

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Example of mixing beliefs..
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III. The Empire of Songhai (continued)

• D. Songhai Falls
• Askia Muhammads son would eventually remove his
  father from the throne.
• He was followed by a series of weak rulers.
• 1580s- Moroccans take over the salt mines.
• 1591- Moroccans take over Timbuktu and Gao.
• Empire collapsed
• Even with the fall of the Empire, those Africans
  who live in kinship groups will live much the
  same as they had before or during the empire.

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Gallery Walk

• With a partner, walk around the room and answer
  these questions by looking at the placards up on
  the wall.