300 likes | 1.8k Views
The Mali Empire. By Lizt Garcia Period 3 . Important Figures:. Religion. The Mali Empire had an older polydaemonistic religion where they believed in "the spirits of the land"
E N D
The Mali Empire By Lizt Garcia Period 3
Religion • The Mali Empire had an older polydaemonistic religion where they believed in "the spirits of the land" • This changed in the 13th century when the trans-Sahara people who traded with the Mali, started telling them about the Islamic religion. Soon enough people started to convert into the religion. • After this huge conversion one of the rulers named Mansa Kankan Musa I started giving goods to trans-Sahara trade • While trading in other countries with Mali, they spent most of there time talking and spreading the news about the Islamic religion. Many people were starting to convert to the Islamic religion because of this.
Largest Territorial Extent • The empire also reached its highest population during the Laye period Mali ruled over 400 cities towns and villages of various religions. • By 1350, the empire covered approximately 439,400 square miles • The total area included nearly all the land between the Sahara Desert and coastal forests. • During this period only the Mongol Empire was larger.
Economy of the Mali Empire • Had a stable economy. Trading was at a very advanced level, and it was largely responsible for its strong economy. • Mali traded it's two main resources were gold and salt. By the 14th century, Mali exported almost half of the Old World’s gold. • The empire also had very fertile soil. They planted beans, rice, sorghum, millet, papaya, gourds, cotton, and peanuts. • The pilgrimage made by Mansa Musa opened trade with other Muslim areas.
Culture & Society • Mansa Musa's travels brought many scholars and artists to the empire. • Timbuktu, a city on the Niger river, became the center of Islamic learning and trade. • The pilgrimage also opened trade with other Muslim areas and promoted intermarriage between Muslims and African women. • Women’s rights were very limited in Mali, many girls marry at a very young age of 15. • Malian women have a very low level of protection within the family. • There was a high level of tolerance of violence against women. However. women had the right to owned land. • Had slaves, and the slaves were treated horribly, and were stolen from their families. They were allowed to become family members of their master’s'.