During his reign, the Mossi emperor Bonga of Yatenga raided into Mali and plundered Macina. The army of the Mali Empire used of a wide variety of weapons depending largely on where the troops originated. It is unknown from whom he descended; however, another emperor, Mansa Maghan Keita III, is sometimes cited as Mansa Mahmud Keita I. [93], In 1477, the Yatenga emperor Nassr made yet another Mossi raid into Macina, this time conquering it and the old province of BaGhana (Wagadou).[109]. . [j][52][53] While in Cairo, Musa met with the Mamluk sultan al-Nasir Muhammad, whose reign had already seen one mansa, Sakura, make the hajj. Musa was a Muslim, and his pilgrimage to Mecca, also known as hajj, made him well known across Northern Africa and the Middle East. [71] The tiny kingdom of Niani was one of several in the Kri area of Manden. 05 Mar 2023. This can be interpreted as either "Musa son of Abu Bakr" or "Musa descendant of Abu Bakr." [93] Emperor Bonga did not appear to hold the area, and it stayed within the Mali Empire after Maghan Keita III's death in 1400. The Sankor University was capable of housing 25,000 students and had one of the largest libraries in the world with roughly 1,000,000 manuscripts.[100][101]. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. [58] This area was composed of mountains, savannah and forest providing ideal protection and resources for the population of hunters. [70] Both of these men were part of Mali's warrior elite known as the ton-ta-jon-ta-ni-woro ("sixteen carriers of quivers"). While Musa's palace has since vanished, the university and mosque still stand in Timbuktu today. Heusch, Luc de: "The Symbolic Mechanisms of Sacred Kingship: Rediscovering Frazer". [81] He went on the hajj during the reign of Mamluk sultan Baibars (12601277). Through the oral tradition of griots, the Keita dynasty, from which nearly every Mali emperor came, claims to trace its lineage back to Lawalo, one of the sons of Bilal,[60] the faithful muezzin of Islam's prophet Muhammad, who was said to have migrated into Mali and his descendants established the ruling Keita dynasty through Maghan Kon Fatta, father of Sundiata Keita.[61]. Al-Umari's list, which is quoted with slight differences by al-Qalqashandi, is as follows: Al-Umari also indicates that four Amazigh tribes were subjects of Mali: Gomez instead suggests that these tribes would have inhabited territory in the vicinity of Mema, Ghana, and Diafunu. Musa conquered more than 20 major cities in his lifetime. Mansa Musa (about 1280 - about 1337) was an emperor (mansa) of the Mali Empire during the 14th century. [91] Historians such as Hadrien Collet have argued that Musa's wealth is impossible to accurately calculate. At the height of its power, Mali had at least 400 cities, and the interior of the Niger Delta was very densely populated. His descendants migrated to the land of Mali and established the Mandinka clan of Keita. Lange, Dierk (1996), "The Almoravid expansion and the downfall of Ghana", Der Islam 73 (2): 313351. Maghan Sundiata was declared "faama of faamas" and received the title "mansa", which translates as "king". The Mali Empire (Manding: Mand[3] or Manden; Arabic: , romanized:Ml) was an empire in West Africa from c. 1226 to 1670. By 1350, the empire covered approximately 478,819 square miles (1,240,140km2). All gold was immediately handed over to the imperial treasury in return for an equal value of gold dust. Around 1550, Mali attacked Bighu in an effort to regain access to its gold. Musa took out large loans from money lenders in Cairo before beginning his journey home. While the accounts are of limited length, they provide a fairly good picture of the empire at its height. That same year, after the Mandinka general known as Sagmandir put down yet another rebellion in Gao,[93] Mansa Musa came to Gao and accepted the capitulation of the King of Ghana and his nobles. [47][48][49] His procession reportedly included 60,000 men, all wearing brocade and Persian silk, including 12,000 slaves,[50] who each carried 1.8kg (4lb) of gold bars, and heralds dressed in silks, who bore gold staffs, organized horses, and handled bags. Under his reign, Mali conquered the neighbouring kingdom of Songhai. The Twelve Doors of Mali were a coalition of conquered or allied territories, mostly within Manden, with sworn allegiance to Sundiata and his descendants. The Songhai kingdom measured several hundreds of miles across, so that the conquest meant the acquisition of a vast territory. The Historic Hajj of Mansa Musa, King of Mali | About Islam En route, he spent time in Cairo, where his lavish gift-giving is said to have noticeably affected the value of gold in Egypt and garnered the attention of the wider Muslim world. This process was essential to keep non-Manding subjects loyal to the Manding elites that ruled them. His equipment furnishings were carried by 12.000 private slave women (Wasaif) wearing gown and brocade (dibaj) and Yemeni silk []. 19 Children of Mansa Musa Muhummed Musa I ( Arabic: , romanized : Mans Ms, N'Ko: ; r. c. 1312 - c. 1337 [a]) was the ninth [4] mansa of the Mali Empire, which reached its territorial peak during his reign. The Sahelian and Saharan towns of the Mali Empire were organised as both staging posts in the long-distance caravan trade and trading centres for the various West African products. [86] Fajigi is remembered as having traveled to Mecca to retrieve ceremonial objects known as boliw, which feature in Mand traditional religion. Research/Artwork: From Nothing Team. Sundjata is credited with at least the initial organisation of the Manding military. [8] Suleyman's death marked the end of Mali's Golden Age and the beginning of a slow decline. His riches came from mining significant salt and gold deposits in the Mali kingdom. Online articles in the 21st century have claimed that Mansa Musa was the richest person of all time. [15] Leo Africanus said that the capital city was called Melli. [90] CelebrityNetWorth has been criticized for the unreliability of its estimates. Cairo and Mecca received this royal personage, whose glittering procession, in the superlatives employed by Arab chroniclers, almost put Africas sun to shame. Still, throne names do not usually indicate blood relations. The 1375 Catalan Atlas portrayed a "city of Melly" (Catalan: ciutat de Melly) in West Africa. [70] These men had to be of the horon (freemen) caste and appear with their own arms. [122] They targeted Moroccan pashas still in Timbuktu and the mansas of Manden. Wali was succeeded by his brother Wati, about whom nothing is known,[82][83] and then his brother Khalifa. Musa's name Kanku Musa means "Musa son of Kanku", but the genealogy may not be literal. harvnb error: no target: CITEREFKi-ZerboNiane (, sfn error: no target: CITEREFLevztionHopkins2000 (. During this period only the Mongol Empire was larger. Mansa Mari Djata Keita II became seriously ill in 1372,[93] and power moved into the hands of his ministers until his death in 1374. The oldest brother, Srbandjougou Keita, was crowned Mansa Foamed or Mansa Musa Keita III. [20] Arab interest in the Mali Empire declined after the Songhai conquered the northern regions of the empire which formed the primary contact between Mali and the Arab world. [40] Seemingly contradictory reports written by Arab visitors, a lack of definitive archaeological evidence, and the diversity of oral traditions all contribute to this uncertainty. He encouraged his subjects immersion in scholarship, the arts, and the Qurn. At each halt, he would regale us [his entourage] rare foods and confectionery. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. 1312 is the most widely accepted by modern historians. Ibn Khaldun recorded that in 776 A.H or 1374/1375 AD he interviewed a Sijilmasan scholar named Muhammad b. Wasul who had lived in Gao and had been employed in its judiciary. [3] During the 11th and 12th centuries, an empire began to develop following the decline of the Ghana Empire, or Wagadu, to the north. At the age of 18, he gained authority over all the 12 kingdoms in an alliance that would become the Mali Empire. Sadly for Sundjata, this did not occur before his father died. the descendants of the nearly 1,000-year-old objects made in Africa. Different oral traditions conflict with each other, as well as Ibn Khaldun, about the transfer of power following Sunjata's death. The fame of Mansa Musa and his phenomenal wealth spread as he traveled on his hajjto Mecca. During his reign, Mali was one of the richest kingdoms of Africa, and Mansa Musa was among the richest individuals in the world. [g] Faga Leye was the son of Abu Bakr, a brother of Sunjata, the first mansa of the Mali Empire. 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). [18], In the Songhai language, rulers of Mali such as Musa were known as the Mali-koi, koi being a title that conveyed authority over a region: in other words, the "ruler of Mali". In Ibn Khaldun's account, Sundjata is recorded as Mari Djata with "Mari" meaning "Amir" or "Prince". The organization and smooth administration of a purely African empire, the founding of the University of Sankore, the expansion of trade in Timbuktu, the architectural innovations in Gao, Timbuktu, and Niani and, indeed, throughout the whole of Mali and in the subsequent Songhai empire are all testimony to Mansa Mss superior administrative gifts. The mansa could also replace a farba if he got out of control, as in the case of Diafunu. But more reasoned analysis suggests that his role, if any, was quite limited. [132], The Mali Empire flourished because of its trade above all else. Hamana (or Amana), southwest of Joma, became the southern sphere, with its capital at Kouroussa in modern Guinea. The Mandinka went on to form the powerful and rich Mali Empire, which produced the richest Black man who ever lived, King Mansa Musa. Medieval Map Points to World's Richest Man, Maybe Ever World History Encyclopedia. The dates of Musa's reign are uncertain. What happened to Mansa Musa I wealth? - Quora The ton-tigi belonged to an elite force of cavalry commanders called the farari ("brave men"). [123] Either as a counter-attack or simply the progression of pre-planned assaults against the remnants of Mali, the Bamana sacked and burned Niani in 1670. Sundiata Keita was a warrior-prince of the Keita dynasty who was called upon to free the local people from the rule of the king of the Sosso Empire, Soumaoro Kant. Certainly, his descendants were Muslim, and many went on pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj), and Keita's most famous descendent, Mansa Musa, dazzled Egypt and the Islamic world on his lavish pilgrimage east. Consequently, the name of Mali and Timbuktu appeared on 14th century world maps. World History Encyclopedia. What did Ms I do when he returned to Mali? The history of the Mandinka started in Manding region. [7] Maghan I succeeded his father as mansa in 1337, but was deposed by his uncle Suleyman in 1341. Why did Ms I make a pilgrimage to Mecca? Grades 5 - 8 Subjects Geography, Human Geography, Social Studies, Ancient Civilizations, World History Image Timbuktu, Henrich Barth Painting The fame of Mansa Musa and his phenomenal wealth spread as he traveled on his hajj to Mecca. "LEAD: International: The History of Guinea-Bissau", "Four People Who Single-handedly Caused Economic Crises", "Lessons from Timbuktu: What Mali's Manuscripts Teach About Peace | World Policy Institute", "Mossi (12501575 AD) DBA 2.0 Variant Army List", "The history of Africa Peul and Toucouleur", "Africa and Slavery 15001800 by Sanderson Beck", "How the Mali Empire in the 12th century revolved levels of governance", Trade, Transport, Temples, and Tribute: The Economics of Power, "Gold, Islam and Camels: The Transformative Effects of Trade and Ideology", "Power and permanence in precolonial Africa: a case study from the central Sahel", "Recherches sur l'Empire du Mali au Moyen Age", "Expansion and Contraction Patterns of Large Polities: Context for Russia", "East-West Orientation of Historical Empires", Metropolitan Museum Empires of the Western Sudan: Mali Empire, Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa 13251354, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mali_Empire&oldid=1142808910, Identification disputed; possibly no fixed capital, Yantaar or Kel Antasar: Located in the vicinity of the, Tn Ghars or Yantar'ras: Correspond to the modern, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 13:53. Historians who lived during the height and decline of the Mali Empire consistently record its standing army peaking at 100,000, with 10,000 of that number being made up of cavalry. Mansa Musa Dbq Essay - 223 Words | Bartleby Mansa Musa returned from Mecca with several Islamic scholars, including direct descendants of the prophet Muhammad and an Andalusian poet and architect by the name of Abu Es Haq es Saheli,. Mansa Musa (died 1337), king of the Mali empire in West Africa, is known mostly for his fabulous pilgrimage to Mecca and for his promotion of unity and prosperity within Mali. In Mali he promoted trans-Saharan trade that further increased the empires wealth. Musa Keita I (c. 1280 - c. 1337), or Mansa Musa, was the ninth Mansa of the Mali Empire, one of the most powerful West African states. According to Burkinab writer Joseph Ki-Zerbo, the farther a person travelled from Niani, the more decentralised the mansa's power became. Musa and his entourage arrived at the outskirts of Cairo in July 1324. Very little is known about the life of Mansa Musa before 1312. He brought a large entourage with him which impressed people everywhere they went. [140], The Mali Empire maintained a semi-professional, full-time army in order to defend its borders. [75] This victory resulted in the fall of the Kaniaga kingdom and the rise of the Mali Empire. Mansa Musa was the great-great-grandson of Sunjata, who was the founder of the empire of Mali. Original video by UsefulCharts. So lavish was the emperor in his spending that he flooded the Cairo market with gold, thereby causing such a decline in its value that the market some 12 years later had still not fully recovered. [22] Oral tradition, as performed by the jeliw (sg. No single Keita ever ruled Manden after Mahmud Keita IV's death, resulting in the end of the Mali Empire. They founded the first village of the Manding, Kirikoroni, then Kirina, Siby, Kita. [34][35] Nonetheless, the possibility of such a voyage has been taken seriously by several historians. [40] In fact, there is a conspicuous absence of archaeological samples of any kind from Niani dated to the late 13th through early 15th centuries, suggesting that Niani may have been uninhabited during the heyday of the Mali Empire. Musa Mansa | YourDictionary [133], There was no standard currency throughout the realm, but several forms were prominent by region. Al-Qalqashandi quotes al-'Umari as spelling it. [41] Given the grandeur of his subsequent hajj, it is likely that Musa spent much of his early reign preparing for it. Mansa Musa Keita was succeeded by his son, Maghan Keita I, in 1337. A very large number of families that make up the Mandinka community were born in Manding. He is believed to be one of the richest individuals to have walked on this planet. Timbuktu was a place of trade, entertainment, and education. Who Are the Mandinka? - HISTORY (2020, October 17). [70] Two noble brothers from Niani, of unknown lineage, went to Dioma with an army and drove out the Fula Wassoulounk. Mansa Musa Keita's crowning achievement was his famous pilgrimage to Mecca, which started in 1324 and concluded with his return in 1326. Musa is known for his wealth and generosity. What made this possible was the decentralised nature of administration throughout the state. Last modified October 17, 2020. Mansa Musa's reign itself was 25 years long. Side by side with the encouragement of trade and commerce, learning and the arts received royal patronage. He never took the field again after Kirina, but his generals continued to expand the frontier, especially in the west where they reached the Gambia River and the marches of Tekrur. [97] Though this has been described as having "wrecked" Egypt's economy,[85] the historian Warren Schultz has argued that this was well within normal fluctuations in the value of gold in Mamluk Egypt. He stopped in Cairo along the way, and his luxurious spending and gift giving was so extensive that he diluted the value of gold by 10 to 25 percent and impacted Cairos economy for at least 12 years afterward. Mansa Musa, one of the wealthiest people who ever lived - Jessica Smith TED-Ed 7.1M views 7 years ago The history of Nigeria explained in 6 minutes (3,000 Years of Nigerian history) Epimetheus. Facts About Mansa Musa - The Richest Human Being Who Ever Lived Musa not only gave to the cities he passed on the way to Mecca, including Cairo and Medina, but also traded gold for souvenirs. In the 17th year of his reign (1324), he set out on his famous pilgrimage to Mecca. to 1337 C.E. [142][143] Numerous sources attest that the inland waterways of West Africa saw extensive use of war canoes and vessels used for war transport where permitted by the environment. Mahmud Keita, possibly a grandchild or great-grandchild of Mansa Gao Keita, was crowned Mansa Maghan Keita III in 1390. He brought back with him descendants of Mohammed, Islamic scholars, and architect Abu Es Haq es Saheli, who went on to create the Djinguereber mosque. This style is characterised by the use of mudbricks and an adobe plaster, with large wooden-log support beams that jut out from the wall face for large buildings such as mosques or palaces. He built mosques and large public buildings in cities like Gao and, most famously, Timbuktu. Eventually, due to Muhammad's failure to return, Musa was recognized as mansa.[89]. [129] The county level administrators called kafo-tigui (county-master) were appointed by the governor of the province from within his own circle. Please check the original source(s) for copyright information. Mansa Musa's personal name was Musa (Arabic: , romanized:Ms), the Arabic form of Moses. Timbuktu became a major Islamic university center during the 14th century due to Mansa Musas developments. Mansa Musa Family Tree | Empire of Mali Server Costs Fundraiser 2023 Running a website with millions of readers every month is expensive. The only real requirement was that the mansa knew he could trust this individual to safeguard imperial interests. [52][55], Musa's generosity continued as he traveled onwards to Mecca, and he gave gifts to fellow pilgrims and the people of Medina and Mecca. Mansa Musa's Pilgrimage to Mecca - Amazing Bible Timeline Salt was as valuable, if not more valuable, than gold in sub-Saharan Africa. That same year, Mahmud II sent another envoy to the Portuguese proposing alliance against the Fula. [70][141] With the help of the river clans, this army could be deployed throughout the realm on short notice. It was reported that he built a mosque every Friday. However, it went through radical changes before reaching the legendary proportions proclaimed by its subjects. ), mansa (emperor) of the West African empire of Mali from 1307 (or 1312). The ancient kingdom of Mali spread across parts of modern-day Mali, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso. Upon stabbing their spears into the ground before Sundiata's throne, each of the twelve kings relinquished their kingdom to the Keita dynasty. Well after his death, Mansa Musa remained engrained in the imagination of the world as a symbol of fabulous wealth. Duties of the farba included reporting on the activities of the territory, collecting taxes and ensuring the native administration didn't contradict orders from Niani. Ibn Battuta observed the employment of servants in both towns. Mansa Musa brought architects and scholars from across the Islamic world into his kingdom, and the reputation of the Mali kingdom grew. The conquest of Sosso in c. 1235 gave the Mali Empire access to the trans-Saharan trade routes. While this was probably an exaggeration, it is known that during his pilgrimage to Mecca one of his generals, Sagmandia (Sagaman-dir), extended the empire by capturing the Songhai capital of Gao. The current King, Salman bin Abdulaziz, is the 25th son of King Abdulaziz and has continued to maintain the . The Lightning Flash | Mansa Musa Traveling separately from the main caravan, their return journey to Cairo was struck by catastrophe. The area was famous as a hunting ground for the large amount of game that it sheltered, as well as its dense vegetation. However, Al-Nasir Muhammad returned Musa's earlier show of generosity with gifts of his own. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. [147][148], The Sudano-Sahelian influence was particularly widely incorporated during the rule of Mansa Musa I, who constructed many architectural projects, including the Great Mosque of Gao and Royal Palace in Timbuktu, which was built with the assistance of Ishaak al-Tuedjin, an architect brought by Musa from his pilgrimage to Mecca. This is the first account of a West African kingdom made directly by an eyewitness; the others are usually second-hand. The Manding languages were spoken in the empire. Mali Empire - Wikipedia Ms I is widely considered the wealthiest man in history. [70], The number and frequency of conquests in the late 13th century and throughout the 14th century indicate the Kolonkan mansas inherited and/or developed a capable military. . A manuscript page from Timbuktu showing a table of astronomical information. Editing: Jack Rackam. [87] The figure of Fajigi combines both Islam and traditional beliefs. The child of this marriage received the first name of his mother (Sogolon) and the surname of his father (Djata). Mali borrowed the practice to stem inflation of the substance, since it was so prominent in the region. World History Encyclopedia, 17 Oct 2020. It was "an admirable Monument", surmounted by a dome and adorned with arabesques of striking colours. Also, Sundiata divided the lands amongst the people assuring everyone had a place in the empire and fixed exchange rates for common products[127]. Umari also describes the empire as being south of Marrakesh and almost entirely inhabited except for few places. There is some ambiguity over the identity of the mansa responsible for the voyages. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Mansa Musa turned the kingdom of Mali into a sophisticated center of learning in the Islamic world.Mansa Musa came to power in 1312 C.E., after the previous king, Abu Bakr II, disappeared at sea. [62] According to one account given by Ibn Khaldun, Musa's general Saghmanja conquered Gao. After the reigns of two more emperors, Musa Keita became mansa in c. 1312. Following the death of Sundiata Keita in c. 1255, the kings of Mali were referred to by the title mansa. [67] News of the Malian empire's city of wealth even traveled across the Mediterranean to southern Europe, where traders from Venice, Granada, and Genoa soon added Timbuktu to their maps to trade manufactured goods for gold.[68].

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