we have much work ahead to stand still
-mansa musa
Introduction
The Mali empire was one of three West African Empires. There was the Songhai empire, the Ghana empire, and the Mali empire. The empire was ruled by Mansa Musa who stressed the importance of learning. After Musa died the empire had a string of poor leaders which then caused the kingdom to collapse.
The Rise Of Mali
Mali's rise to power began under a ruler named Sundiata. Sundiata Keita founded the Kingdom of Mali, he won back his country's independence and conquered nearby kingdoms, including Ghana. Sundiata became Mali's national hero when he crushed the forces of Sumanguru. Sumanguru was a cruel ruler of Ghana and killed all that challenged his power. He killed many Malinka people but did not kill Sundiata. The victory led to the rise of a new empire, The Mali Empire.
Timeline Of Power
1235 The king of Mali, Sundiata, defeated Sumanguru at the battle of Kirina. From then on Mali replaced Ghana as the major power in West Africa. Sundiata established his capital at Niana on the upper Niger.
1307 Mansa Musa (d.1337), Mali’s greatest ruler, succeeded to the throne. He commissioned grand mosques.
1324-1325 Mansa Musa (Kankan Moussa), king of Mali, made the 3,500 mile pilgrimage to Mecca with gold valued at $115 million in 1999 prices. He traveled with a very large retinue that included 80 camels and 500 slaves. An Arab chronicler said he was surrounded by over 10,000 of his subjects.
1332 Mansa Musa, King of Mali, died. His successors were not able to protect Mali’s vast territory and Berber nomads began attacking caravan routes in the desert and threatened to take Timbuktu. People from the southern rain forests attacked the southern boundary and to the west the Songhai of the middle Niger River began to revolt.
1353 Ibn Battuta spent a few months in Mali and left a full description of his experiences.
1400 Mali (Africa) was under attack from all four sides and gradually weakened in power.
1434 Nomadic Tuaregs seized Timbuktu, Mali, from invaders.
1435 A Songhai prince, Sunni Ali, declares Gao’s independence. Aided by Songhai warriors, he successfully fought off Mali’s attempt to regain the city.
1558 Sidi Mahmoud Ben Amar (b.1463/64), a member of the Berber tribe of the Godala, died in Mali. He was named Cadi in 1498 or 99. His tomb in Timbuktu was later named a World Heritage site.
1590 Apr 25, The Sultan of Morocco launched his successful attack to capture Timbuktu. Morocco sent 4,000 soldiers under the Muslim Spaniard Judar Pasha to conquer Songhai. After a five month journey across the Shara, Pasha arrived with only 1,000 men, but his soldiers carried guns. The 25,000 men of the Songhai were no match for the guns and Gao, Timbuktu and most of Songhai fall.
1591 Moroccan invaders sacked Timbuktu (Mali).
Source: http://www.timelines.ws/countries/MALI.HTML
1307 Mansa Musa (d.1337), Mali’s greatest ruler, succeeded to the throne. He commissioned grand mosques.
1324-1325 Mansa Musa (Kankan Moussa), king of Mali, made the 3,500 mile pilgrimage to Mecca with gold valued at $115 million in 1999 prices. He traveled with a very large retinue that included 80 camels and 500 slaves. An Arab chronicler said he was surrounded by over 10,000 of his subjects.
1332 Mansa Musa, King of Mali, died. His successors were not able to protect Mali’s vast territory and Berber nomads began attacking caravan routes in the desert and threatened to take Timbuktu. People from the southern rain forests attacked the southern boundary and to the west the Songhai of the middle Niger River began to revolt.
1353 Ibn Battuta spent a few months in Mali and left a full description of his experiences.
1400 Mali (Africa) was under attack from all four sides and gradually weakened in power.
1434 Nomadic Tuaregs seized Timbuktu, Mali, from invaders.
1435 A Songhai prince, Sunni Ali, declares Gao’s independence. Aided by Songhai warriors, he successfully fought off Mali’s attempt to regain the city.
1558 Sidi Mahmoud Ben Amar (b.1463/64), a member of the Berber tribe of the Godala, died in Mali. He was named Cadi in 1498 or 99. His tomb in Timbuktu was later named a World Heritage site.
1590 Apr 25, The Sultan of Morocco launched his successful attack to capture Timbuktu. Morocco sent 4,000 soldiers under the Muslim Spaniard Judar Pasha to conquer Songhai. After a five month journey across the Shara, Pasha arrived with only 1,000 men, but his soldiers carried guns. The 25,000 men of the Songhai were no match for the guns and Gao, Timbuktu and most of Songhai fall.
1591 Moroccan invaders sacked Timbuktu (Mali).
Source: http://www.timelines.ws/countries/MALI.HTML