The Mali Empire
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Source: Wikimedia
Commons
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By Evan Andrews
The founding of the Mali Empire
dates to the 1200s, when a ruler named Sundiata
Keita—sometimes called the “Lion King”—led a revolt against a Sosso king and united his
subjects into a new state. Under Keita and his successors, the empire tightened
its grip over a large portion of West Africa and grew rich on trade. Its most
important cities were Djenné and Timbuktu, both of which were renowned for
their elaborate adobe mosques and Islamic schools. One such institution, Timbuktu’s
Sankore University, included a library with an estimated 700 000
manuscripts.
The
Mali Empire eventually disintegrated in the 16th century, but at its peak
it was one of the jewels of the African continent and was known the world over
for its wealth and luxury. One legendary tale about the kingdom’s riches
concerns the ruler Mansa
Musa, who made a stopover in Egypt during a 14th century pilgrimage to
Mecca. According to contemporary sources, Musa dished out so much gold during
the visit that he caused its value to plummet in Egyptian markets for several
years.
Source: History
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