1. West Africans needed salt.
North Africans had salt.

2. North African nomads crossed
the Sahara desert to engage
in trade with West Africans.

3. Of course, any kingdom strong
enough to control this trade
was prosperous and powerful.

4. By 1240 A.D., the West African
kingdom of Mali had conquered
the weakened kingdom of Ghana.

5. The kings of Mali brought
the salt and gold mines
under their control.

6. The West African kingdom of
Mali truly was “the land of gold”!

7. Of course, trade increased cultural diffusion as the
religion of Islam entered
West Africa along trade routes.

8. Many West Africans converted
to Islam.

9. The kings of Mali were good
rulers but the greatest king
of Mali was Mansa Musa.

10. Muslim and the most significant
Mansa Musa was a pious
Muslim and the most significant
king of Mali.

11. Mansa Musa established a
great center for learning
in Timbuktu, the capital city
of Mali.

12. He encouraged learning and
invited Arab scholars to study
at his great university.

13. As a pious Muslim, Mansa Musa
made a pilgrimage to Mecca.

14. Mansa Musa fulfilled an important obligation of Islam
by making the pilgrimage to
Mecca.

15. Mansa Musa also fulfilled the pillar of charity by
giving gold away on his journey.

16. Sadly, subsequent kings were not as capable as Mansa Musa
and the empire declined after
his death.