History: Kingdom of Mali

Early Muslim Expansion (632-661 CE)

• 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.

Spread of Islam in North Africa (7th-9th centuries)

• 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.

Spread of Islam in West 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.

Islam in West Africa (continued)

• 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.

Empire of Mali

• 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.

Mansa Musa I

• 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.

Pilgrimage to Mecca

• 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.