FALL OF GHANA RISE OF MALI

1
FALL OF GHANARISE OF MALI
2
GHANA FALLS

• Traders tired of paying high protection taxes
  found alternate caravan routes reducing Ghanas
  wealth.
• The government is having difficulty supporting
  and protecting the large population of people who
  have moved to their lands. This leads to lack of
  trade supplies and creates food shortages.

3
SPIRAL CONTINUES

• In 1060 the Almoravids, a group of Berbers try
  and attack Ghana from the NW.
• They wanted to expand their Muslim faith, have
  control of the gold mines and utilize Ghanas
  farmland to graze their animals.
• The Almoravids FAIL, but it weakens Ghana and
  they NEVER regain their former wealth or
  strength. The empire of Ghana is NO MORE ?

4
Power Struggles

• After Ghana fell, the power of the land returned
  to the individual districts/kingdoms. There were
  constant battles for land and power.

In 1203 Sumanguru took over what was left of the
Ghana Empire. He was a cruel leader and killed
those he felt threatened his power.
In 1230 the neighboring Kingdom of Malinke led a
rebellion to overthrow Sumanguru.
5
ENTER THE KINGDOM OF MALI

• The rebellion was lead by Sundiata. He took over
  in 1235, creating the Kingdom of Mali. These new
  lands included the former lands of Ghana and much
  more.

Sundiata was nicknamed the Lion King. He was
considered a great and wise leader.
6
SUNDIATAS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• He called himself MANSA which means emperor.
• Re-established Trade Routes with protection and
  took control of gold mines.

• Increased kingdoms wealth by trading gold, salt,
  cloth, books and copper with Egypt and N. Africa.

7
SUNDIATAS ACCOMPLISHMENTS CONTINUED

• Had army clear farmland to help people get back
  on their feet. Introduced the crop of cotton.
• Continued attitude of religious freedom and
  tolerance although he was a practicing Muslim.
• Ruled with an assembly of kings to establish laws
  such as who could own property, how individuals
  should act and how social classes would be
  determined.

• Ruled for 25 years and was loved by his people.
• Power was passed down through his bloodlines to
  his son Wali then his son Mansa Musa.

Mansa Musa
8
MANSA MUSA

• Ruled Empire of Mali from 1312-1337
• Continued practicing Islam like his grandfather
  and turned Mali into a center of Muslim learning
  and art
• Opened a university for Islamic scholarship in
  Timbuktu

9
Mansa Musas Hajj

• Left Mali for his once in a lifetime pilgrimage
  to
• Mecca in 1324 returning one year later.
• His caravan had 12,000 officials and slaves in it
  and 80 camels loaded with gold dust and nuggets.

10
Mansa Musas Continued

• He stopped in Egypt during his hajj and it is
  rumored that he spent so much gold there he upset
  the economy for years.
• His trip brought worldwide attention and
  travelers to the Kingdom of Mali.
• By the 1400s rulers of Mali began losing control
  of the empire.

11
Rise of Songhai Empire

• In 1464 the Songhai Kingdom took over
• the lands of the Mali Empire including
• the city of Timbuktu
• This empire was larger than the Empires
• of Ghana or Mali.
• First leader of Songhai was Sunni Ali who was a
  great military leader

• Arabic was used in the writing of the laws of the
  empire and spoken across the empire to create a
  common trade language and cementing the practice
  of Islam in North Africa.

12
COLLAPSE OF THE GREAT WESTERN KINGDOMS
The last great leader Askia Muhammad had to step
down due to health issues in 1529 leaving his
sons to argue and compete against each other for
control of land weakening the empire.
In 1591 the country of Morocco invaded Songhai.
Armed with guns they took control of the empire
and the once thriving cities like Timbuktu fell
in ruin.
Tomb of Askia Muhammad