The+Fall+of+the+Mali+Empire

** Climate & Geographic Factors: **
==== ·  **   The Capital of The Mali Empire at the time was  Niani; later known as Ka-ba. **==== ==== ·  **  The Mali Empire was bordered with  Algeria to the north and northeast, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso to the southeast and, with the Ivory Coast, to the south. On the west are Senegal and Mauritania. **====

 · **  The climate in the Mali Empire was dry.   **
==== ·  **Since it was located in the West of Africa on a dessert the climate was dry** ====

** Musa I **
==== ·  ** The first ruler from the Laye lineage was Kankan Musa (or, Moussa), also known as Kango Musa. **==== ==== ·  ** After an entire year of ruling he was crowned Mansa Musa. **==== ==== ·  ** One of his mayor achievements was discovering a gold mine in Mali which made the civilization very rich. **====

 · ** He died in 1337. **
==== ·  ** By the time of his death in 1337, Mali had control over Taghazza, a salt producing area in the north, which further strengthened its treasury. **==== ====  ·   ** He was succeeded by his son Meghan I, who wasn’t a good emperor and the people of Mali overruled him and the trone then passed to his brother, Souleyman. **====

 · ** He brought the civilization’s economy up. **
==== ·  **Mansa Souleyman died in 1360 and was succeeded by his son, Camba.** ====

** Mansa Camba II **
==== ·  ** He ruled oppressively and nearly bankrupted Mali with his huge mmoney spending. **==== ==== ·  ** He did however maintain contacts with Morocco, sending a giraffe to King Abu Hassan of the Maghreb. **==== ==== ·  **Mansa Camba II became seriously ill in 1372, and power moved into the hands of his ministers until his death in 1374.** ====

** Musa II **
==== ·  ** After Mansa Cumba II’s death in 1374 the empire was in bad financial conditions. **==== ====<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  ** Musa II did a good job getting the empire’s financial issues up. **====

<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> · ** He dies in 1387. **
====<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  ** Mali’s economic situation had gone up by the time of his death. ** ====

** Maghan II    **
====<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  **The last son of Maghan I, Tenin Maghan (also known as Kita Tenin Maghan for the province he once governed) is crowned Mansa Meghan II in 1387. Little is known of him except that he only reigned two years. He is deposed in 1389 marking the end of the Faga Laye mansas.** ====

** Sandaki **
====<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  **Mansa Sandaki, a descendant of Kankoro-Sigui Mari Djata, deposed Maghan II becoming the first person without any Keita dynastic relation to officially rule Mali. Sandaki should not however be taken to be this person's name but a title. Sandaki likely means High Counselor or Supreme Counselor, from "san" or "sanon" (meaning "high") and "adegue" (meaning counselor). He would only reign a year before a descendant of Mansa Gao removed him.** ====

** Maghan III    **
====<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  ** Mahmud, possibly a grandchild or great-grandchild of Mansa Gao, was crowned Mansa Meghan III in 1390. **==== ====<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  **During his reign, the Mossi emperor Bonga of Yatenga raids into Mali and plunders Macina. Emperor Bonga does not appear to hold the area, and it stays within the Mali Empire after Maghan III’s death in 1400.**  ====

** Musa III    **
====<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  ** In the early 1400 Mali was strong enough to conquer new areas. **==== ====<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  ** Mali conquered Dioma, an area south of Niani populated by Peuhl Wassoulounké. **==== ====<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  ** It is likely that his reign saw the first in a string of many great losses to Mali. In 1430, the Taureg seized Timbuktu. **==== ====<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  **Three years later, Oualata also fell into their hands.** ====

** Ouali II    **
====<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  ** After Musa’s death in 1440 Quali II took over. **==== ====<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  ** By that time Mali was one of the most powerful empire in the coast in 1454. **==== ====<span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  **Despite their power in the west, Mali was losing the battle for supremacy in the north and northeast. The new Songhai Empire conquered Mema, one of Mali’s oldest possessions, in 1465.** ====

** Mansa Mahmud II **
Mansa Mahmud II came to the throne in 1481 during Mali's downward spiral. It is unknown from whom he descended; however, another emperor, Mansa Maghan III, is sometimes cited as Mansa Mahmud I. Still, throne names don’t usually indicate blood relations. Mansa Mahmud II’s rule was characterized by more losses to Mali’s old possessions and increased contact between Mali and Portuguese explorers along the coast. In 1481, Peuhl raids against Mali’s Tekrur provinces begin. The growing trade in Mali’s western provinces with Portugal witnesses the exchange of envoys between the two nations. Mansa Mahmud II receives the Portuguese envoy Pedro d’Evora al Gonzalo in 1484.[|[9]] The mansa looses control of Jalo during this period. Meanwhile, Songhai seizes the salt mines of Taghazza in 1493. That same year, Mahmud II sends another envoy to the Portuguese proposing alliance against the Peuhl. The Portuguese decide to stay out of the conflict and the talks conclude by 1495 without an alliance.

** Mansa Mahmud III    **
The last mansa to rule from Niani is Mansa Mahmud III also known as Mansa Mamadou II. He came to power around 1496 and has the dubious honor of being the mansa under which Mali suffered the most losses to its territory. Songhai forces under the command of Askia Muhammad defeat the Mali general Fati Quali in 1502 and seize the province of Diafunu. In 1514, the Denanke dynasty is established in Tekrour. It isn’t long before the new kingdom of Great Fulo is warring against Mali’s remaining provinces. To add insult to injury, the Songhai Empire seizes the copper mines of Takedda. In 1534, Mahmud III received another Portuguese envoy to the Mali court by the name of Pero Fernandes. This envoy from the Portuguese coastal port of Elmina arrives in response to the growing trade along the coast and Mali’s now urgent request for military assistance against Songhai. Still, no help is forthcoming and Mali must watch its possessions fall one by one. Mansa Mahmud III’s reign also sees the military outpost and province of Kaabu become independent in 1537. The Kaabu Empire appears every bit as ambitions as Mali was in its early years and swallows up Mali’s remaining Gambian provinces of Cassa and Bati. The most defining moment in Mahmud III’s reign is the final conflict between Mali and Songhai in 1545. Songhai forces under Askia Ishaq’s brother, Daoud, sack Niani and occupy the palace. Mansa Mahmud III is forced to flee Niani for the mountains. Within a week, he regroups with his forces and launches a successful counter-attack forcing the Songhai out of Manden proper for good. The Songhai Empire does keep Mali’s ambitions in check, but never fully conquers their old masters. After liberating the capital, Mahmud III abandons it for a new residence further north. Still, there is no end to Mali’s troubles. In 1559, the kingdom of Fouta Tooro succeeds in taking Takrur. This defeat reduces Mali to Manden proper with control extending only as far as Kita in the west, Kangaba in the north, the Niger River bend in the east and Kouroussa in the south.

Mansa Mahmud IV
==== <span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·   ** Mansa Mahmud IV (also known as Mansa Mamadou III, Mali Mansa Mamadou and Niani Mansa Mamadou) was the last emperor of Manden according to the Tarikh al-Sudan. It states that he launched an attack on the city of Djenné in 1599 with Fulani allies hoping to take advantage of Songhai’s defeat. Moroccan fusiliers, deployed from Timbuktu, met them in battle exposing Mali to the same technology (firearms) that had destroyed Songhai. Despite heavy losses, the mansa’s army was not deterred and nearly carried the day. However, the army inside Djenné intervened forcing Mansa Mahmud IV and his army to retreat to Kangaba. **====

** Collapse **
====<span style="font-weight: normal; color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  ** The mansa’s defeat actually won Manden the respect of Morocco and may have saved it from Songhai’s fate. It would be the Mandinka themselves that would cause the final destruction of the empire. Around 1610, Mahmud IV died. Oral tradition states that he had three sons whom fought over Manden's remains. No single person ever ruled Manden after Mahmuud IV's death, resulting in the end of the Mali Empire. The Mali Empire officially collapsed in 1601. **====

Agriculture & the Economy Gold: <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   At this time Mali still had its three Gold mines within its borders. <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   Mali traded with it’s the other countries beside it. <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   The most common measure for gold within the realm was the ambiguous //mithqa.// <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   Gold dust was used all over the empire, but was not valued equally in all regions. Salt: <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   The next great unit of exchange in the Mali Empire was salt. <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   Salt was as valuable if not more valuable as gold in Mali. <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   While it was as good as gold in the north, it was even better in the south. The people of the south needed salt for their diet, but it was extremely rare. Copper: <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   Copper was also a valued commodity in imperial Mali. Copper, traded in bars, was mined from Takedda in the north and traded in the south for gold. Contemporary sources claim 60 copper bars traded for 100 dinars of gold. Art, Literature & Music: Literacy <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   Mali is a multilingual country. <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   French was still the official language spoken in Mali in this time. <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   Though Mali's literature is less famous than its music, Mali has always been one of Africa's liveliest intellectual centers. <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   Mali's literary tradition is largely oral, with //jalis// reciting or singing histories and stories from memory.

Music: <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   At this time a citizen from Mali names Moorish Mataka invented one of Mali’s most popular music, the Jeliw. <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   To play the jeliw you need a drum, and a bankro (instrument that looks like a guitar.) <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   Komosa (Xalam) Traditional Instruments: <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   The kora is by far the most popular traditional instrument. It is similar to both a harp and a lute and can have between 21 and 25 strings. <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   Ngoni (lutes) <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   balafon (xylophones) Art <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·   the people at this time used to make copper sculptures and sell them to the rich people at the time.

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