Origin and Fate of the Empire of Mali :: World History

Origin and Fate of the Empire of MaliIntroduction In its peak, the people of Mali occupied land as far west as theAtlantic Ocean. They also worked as far east as Gao, the capital of theSonghai, as far south as the Niger bend, and as far north as the Saharadesert. They built a great empire between 1240 and 1337 that underwent acourse of slow decline until the seventeenth century. score The empire of Mali originated from a small country known as Kangaba.Its people where known as the Mandingo (they have also been called theMalinke and the Mandinka). After the breakup of Ghana, the Sosso, who hadcaused the breakup, were still in power. Apparently Sundiata, an heir tothe Mandingo throne raised an army and defeated the Sosso in the battle ofKirina. Afterward, Sundiata established the empire of Mali. He converted toIslam for support of the Muslim peoples. When Mansa genus Musa came into power,in the early 1300s, the empire reached its height. Mansa Musa traveledthrough Cairo on his pilgrimage to Mecca. It is said that he gave away somuch favourable that it dropped in value in Cairo for 12 years. Afterward the empire slowly declined, until, in the 1600s it was nomore than it had been originally when it originated the small kingdom ofKangaba. giving medication The government of Mali was a dictatorship. The dictator, who had thetitle of Mansa, was the sole secular and religious leader of his people,though not he did not enjoy the same power as Egyptian Pharaohs did. Thebase of government was located in the capital, known as Niani. It was oncewritten by a traveler that a person could travel safely without fear ofharm, and that the people of Mali hated injustice and the Mansa did nottolerate injustice at all. The military branch of government was constant. There was a standarmy of professional soldiers, so that Mali was ready for a battle withouthaving to raise an army every time.Religion The religion in Mali was divided between both groups. The merchants,traders, and government officials, including the Mansa, were Islam, though,apparently, they did not adhere to it very well. Women were allowed freedomand even the Mansa still believed in the tactile sensation of the land. The basicpeasant farmer believed in a spirit of the land to whom he prayed so that