History: Kingdom of Mali

Study Notes

Muhammad died in 632 CE, and shortly after, the Muslim expansion began.
Between 634-638, Muslims conquered the Levant, reclaiming holy land in Acre and Jerusalem from the Byzantines.
This early conquest gave Muslims a foothold to launch campaigns out of the Arabian Peninsula.
Military expeditions, called "futuhat," or "openings," occurred shortly after Muhammad's death, spreading Islam to Egypt and other parts of North Africa.

Arab traders built Muslim trading centres and mosques along the trans-Saharan trade route.
The trans-Saharan trade route brought wealth and dominance to the Islamic world in North Africa.
Berbers and other African people began to convert to Islam for various reasons, including protection from slavery and political support.
Not all North Africans accepted Islam immediately, and it took until the 12th century for Islam to become the main religion across North Africa.

West Africa was rich in gold, attracting Arab traders who helped spread Islam throughout the region.
Kingdoms in West Africa, such as Ghana and Songhai, developed and spread Islam, with the people of the kingdom of Tekur being the first black people to accept Islam.
By the 14th century, Muslims ruled most powerful states throughout West Africa.

Places along the trade routes, such as Sidjilmassa, Taghaza, Gao, and Timbuktu, became centres of Islamic learning, civilization, and administrative practices.
Arab traders brought Islamic education, and the people started becoming literate in Arabic.
Trade with Arabs resulted in wealth in West Africa, and the development of trading empires such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.

Founded around 1235 CE by Sundiata Keita, the Mali Empire thrived from the 1200s to the 1500s.
The empire expanded up along the Niger River and spread across West Africa, from Gao to the Atlantic Ocean.
Trading and gold mining made Mali rich, with Mansa Musa inheriting a wealthy kingdom and expanding trade to make Mali the wealthiest kingdom in Africa.
The Mali Empire controlled the salt trade along the trade routes and was the second-largest and most successful empire between 1230 and 1600.

Born around 1280 CE, Mansa Musa I ruled Mali from 1307 to 1332 CE.
He extended Mali's vast empire, doubling its territory and making it second in size only to the Mongol Empire.
Mansa Musa controlled trade routes, encouraged the growth of trans-Saharan trade, and established Mali as a centre of trade and commerce.
He built a strong economy, encouraged learning, and had a decentralized government system, dividing the empire into provinces, each ruled by a governor.

Mansa Musa decided to make a pilgrimage (hajj) to the holy city of Mecca, informing the Islamic world and European countries about Mali's success.
He spent so much gold in Cairo that gold lost its value, and he had to borrow money for his journey home.
Mansa Musa repaid the loans generously, demonstrating his generosity and loyalty to his people.

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