Who ruled Mali in 1200?

Who ruled Mali in 1200?

Sundiata Keita
The Mali Empire (1240-1645) of West Africa was founded by Sundiata Keita (r. 1230-1255) following his victory over the kingdom of Sosso (c. 1180-1235).

What European country colonized Mali?

French Colonization and Independence: In the colonial era, Mali fell under the control of the French beginning in the late 1800s. By 1893, the French had appointed a civilian governor of the territory they called French Sudan, but active resistance to French rule continued.

What was the Mali empire known for?

The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita (c. 1214 – c. 1255) and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa (Musa Keita). At its peak, Mali was the largest empire in West Africa, profoundly and widely influencing the culture of the region through the spread of its language, laws and customs.

Did Mali trade with Europe?

For centuries caravan travel was the central means of transportation for goods traded between the Mediterranean and the Sudan. Cloth, salt, metals, pearls and writing paper were brought from Europe and the Maghreb into present-day Mali, where they were exchanged for gold, slaves, ivory and ostrich feathers.

What happened to Mali’s wealth?

But Mali’s fame as a place of incredible wealth ultimately led to its downfall with Portuguese interest in the kingdom ultimately culminating in naval raids against the empire starting in the 15th century. Mansa Musa, and his opulent African empire, ended up confined only to annals of history.

Is Mali a former French colony?

Mali fell under French colonial rule in 1892. By 1893, the French appointed a civilian governor of the territory they called Soudan Français (French Sudan), but active resistance to French rule continued. By 1905, most of the area was under firm French control.

How did the Mali Empire rise?

The rise of the Mali Empire can be traced back to Sundiata, or the “Lion King,” as some called him. After seizing the former capital of the Ghana Empire in 1240, Sundiata and his men consolidated control while continuing to expand the Mali Empire. Using his large army, Musa doubled the empire’s territory.

What was the culture of the Mali Empire?

From the nomadic Tuareg, Fulani, Bozo fishers, Bambara, and Dogon farmers, each of Mali’s dozens of ethnic groups have their own unique languages and history, yet generally interact amicably with each other. Each of these has passed down their own traditions, history and occupations over the centuries.

How did Mali influence trade?

Mali was ruled by kings called mansa. Mali gained power through gold and salt mining and through control of the Trans-Saharan trade routes in the region. Mali’s relative location lay across the trade routes between the sources of salt in the Sahara Desert and the gold mines of West Africa.

What is the history of the Mali Empire?

Mali, trading empire that flourished in West Africa from the 13th to the 16th century. The Mali empire developed from the state of Kangaba, on the Upper Niger River east of the Fouta Djallon, and is said to have been founded before ad 1000. The Malinke inhabitants of Kangaba acted as middlemen in the gold trade during…

What is the best book on the Mali Empire?

(New York: Scribner’s, 2008); Ari Nave and Elizabeth Heath, “The Mali Empire” in Africana, The Encyclopedia of the African & African American Experience, Kwame Anthony Appiah, and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., (New York: Oxford: University Press, 2005).

How big was the Malian army?

The Malian Army numbered 100,000 men including 10,000 cavalry. During this time only the Mongol Empire ( China) and the Russian Empire exceed Mali in size. The mansa reserved the exclusive right to dispense justice and to tax both local and international trade.

How did Mali fall to the Songhai?

…to its replacement by the Mali, or Mandingo, empire, centred on the upper Niger River. Mali in turn was overthrown during the latter part of the 15th century by the expansion of the Songhai, or Gao, empire, which developed from Berber settlements established on the lower Niger as early as….