The Mali Empire
The kingdom of Mali emerged in 1235 after the fall of Ghana. Similar to Ghana its wealth is built on gold. The people who were under the control of Ghana began to act independently due to it being too weak. Also, miners found new gold deposits farther east. This caused the most important trade routes to shift eastward. This gave the people of Mali wealthy and they had a chance to seize power. Mali's first great leader was Sundiata. He won many military victories and took over the kingdom of Ghana. The empire of Mali experienced a period of peace and prosperity under his rule.
Sadly, Sundiata died in 1255. The religion of Islam became popular with some of Mali's next rulers. These African Muslim rulers built mosques, attended public praters, and supported the preaching of Muslim holy men. The most famous of them was Mansa Musa who might have been Sundita's grandnephew. His rule was from about 1312 to 1332. Between the rule of Sundiata and Mana Musa, Mali experienced years of grief. There had been seven years in about 50 years. Thankfully, like Sundiata, Mana Musa was a skilled military leader placed firm control over the gold salt trade and exterminated every rebellion. Under his rule, the Mali empire roughly doubled in size. Mansa Musa intelligently divided it into provinces and appointed governors who ruled fairly and efficiently
The fall of the Mali Empire was unfortunately due to the fact that Mansa Musa's successors lacked his ability to govern well. Also, the gold trade that had been the foundation of Mali's wealth traveled westward as new gold fields were developed elsewhere.
Sadly, Sundiata died in 1255. The religion of Islam became popular with some of Mali's next rulers. These African Muslim rulers built mosques, attended public praters, and supported the preaching of Muslim holy men. The most famous of them was Mansa Musa who might have been Sundita's grandnephew. His rule was from about 1312 to 1332. Between the rule of Sundiata and Mana Musa, Mali experienced years of grief. There had been seven years in about 50 years. Thankfully, like Sundiata, Mana Musa was a skilled military leader placed firm control over the gold salt trade and exterminated every rebellion. Under his rule, the Mali empire roughly doubled in size. Mansa Musa intelligently divided it into provinces and appointed governors who ruled fairly and efficiently
The fall of the Mali Empire was unfortunately due to the fact that Mansa Musa's successors lacked his ability to govern well. Also, the gold trade that had been the foundation of Mali's wealth traveled westward as new gold fields were developed elsewhere.