1. The West
African kingdom
of Mali
rose to power
as the West
of Ghana
declined
and collapsed.

2. And like Ghana before it, the West
African kingdom of Mali took control
of the Trans-Saharan trade routes.

3. North African
salt
for
West African
gold

4. But unlike Ghana, the “land of gold”
with no gold fields, Mali took control
of the gold fields. Mali truly was the
“land of gold.”

5. The rulers of Mali taxed traders entering
and exiting Mali as well as sold gold
from its gold fields. The kingdom of Mali
was phenomenally wealthy.

6. Mansa Musa was the West African kingdom of Mali’s greatest and most
significant ruler.

7. Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim. Islam had entered West Africa along
trade routes. To fulfill the Five Pillars
of the Faith, Mansa Musa took a
pilgrimage to Mecca.

8. Mansa Musa expanded his empire, built a great center for learning in
Timbuktu, and made a pilgrimage to
Mecca!

9. Ibn Battuta was a great Arab traveler,
much like Marco Polo. He visited Mansa Musa’s court and wrote about
his experiences in this land of wealth.

10. Mansa Musa ruled Mali from 1312-1337.

11. Though Mansa Musa was a superb ruler,
his successors were not as capable.

12. The West African kingdom of Mali declined and eventually collapsed
after the death of Mansa Musa.

13. The West African kingdom of Songhai
replaced Mali and dominated the salt
for gold trade.

14. The Big Five
How did the West African kingdom of Mali differ from the West African kingdom of Ghana?
Who was Mansa Musa and how did he improve the West African kingdom of Mali?
Why did Mansa Musa take a pilgrimage to Mecca?
Who was Ibn Battuta and why was he important?
Why did the West African kingdom of Mali decline?