West African Empire of Mail
SOL’s 3.2
• Africa was the home to several great
empires. One of the most prosperous was
the early West African empire of Mali.
What continent will be
visiting?
What ocean is west?
What do you know about
this area of the world?
Are you ready to take a trip?
What should we pack?
•
http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Western+Africa+MLTB0680:1:ML
Welcome! All Aboard!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnBke-S9oGY
Would you care for some
refreshments?
• Bananas
• Corn (popcorn)
Are you ready to fly to Mali?
Where on Earth is
Mali?
Mali is located on the
continent of Africa. It is
one of many countries. It
is considered part of
West Africa.
The nation was called Mali.
Mali became a legendary empire- a place of power
and great wealth!
The Country Of Mali
• Mali is located in
western Africa.
• Many people think the
outline of the country
looks like a “toilet.”
• A variety of regions
can be found in west
Africa.
About half of Mali is in the Sahara Desert.
Can you find Mali?
What do you imagine
when you think of the
desert?
How would this
environment affect the
way people lived?
Another important physical feature of
Mali is the Niger River (Ny geer).
• The Niger River
runs through the
Empire of Mali,
and brings water
for drinking.
• The Niger River
also gave
farmers plenty of
good soil called,
SILT, in which to
grow their crops.
Physical Characteristics
• Empire of Mali
• located in West Africa near rivers and in a
grassland region
• had gold mines
Trade
• Mali became one of
the largest and
wealthiest empires
in the region and
was an important
trade center.
• People used the
Niger river to trade
and for water to
grow crops.
What did Mali trade?
• Gold
The dotted
lines are trade
routes from
Mali to other
parts of
Africa
Gold was
important to the
Malians.
The Sahara Desert
Salt was mined in
the deserts of the
Sahara.
Salt was also an
important
natural resource
found in Africa.
Miners mining salt.
These are slabs of salt ready to be exported by camels
to a trading center.
Turn and Talk
• What two things did the Mali Empire
specialize in and trade?
• Because they had to cross the hot, Sahara
Desert, how do you think the people of this
ancient time traveled?
Salt was mined in the Sahara.
The slabs were loaded onto camels and sent to trading
centers.
Salt was needed for
food and health, but
it was not found
everywhere. Gold
was often traded for
salt. Mali was in the
middle of this trade
route which made
its rulers very
wealthy.
The trade route in Mali is the route that camel
caravans took from the deserts. In the north the
traders got salt, copper, cloth books and cowrie
shells. In the south they had gold, kola nuts, ivory,
and slaves.
Camels were Mali’s treasures.
They helped make Mali rich, because they carried the cargo.
Camels preparing to make their
slow, steady way across the
Camels carrying Mali’s
Sahara loaded down with goods finest treasures.
on their way to the great markets.
A camel caravan is a group of
camels that travel together
carrying goods.
Camels were the trucks and trains of Mali often bringing
goods from far away lands to trade. However, camels were
well adapted for life in the desert. They have special eyes
and feet, and they can drink lots of water at a time!
The Rulers of Mali
• The kings of Mali were rich and powerful
men who controlled trade in West Africa.
• The word for king was Mansa.
Turn and Talk
• Why were the kings so wealthy?
• How is the Mali Empire different from the
Roman Empire?
Mansa
The mansas became rich and powerful kings. They
collected taxes from the citizens of their empire.
Sundiata, better known as
the “Lion King,” saved
Mali and brought back
peace. Under his rule,
Mali became rich.
Mansa Musa, another
great king, helped Mali
grow in size. He was
known as, “the King of
Africa.”
Off to TIMBUKTU!
Timbuktu was an
important city in
Mali. It had a
famous university
with a large library
containing Greek
and Roman books.
Timbuktu
Mali citizens on their way to the markets in
Timbuktu to trade their goods.
Trading in Timbuktu
Malians trade their goods at the markets.
Human Characteristics
• People were farmers, miners and traders.
• Even though the land was in the Sahara
Desert how could they farm?
• What did they mine?
• What did they trade?
How did people adapt to their
environment?
• Salt was an important natural resource
needed in Mali. Gold from Mali was traded
for salt.
Religion
The people of Mali were “Muslims” and followed
the ways of ISLAM, their religion. The worshipped
at temples called “mosques.”
Storytellers
• Many storytellers in Mali passed on stories
and traditions from one generation to the
next.
• Why do you think storytellers are important
to learning about the history of Mali?
Griot
A griot was a storyteller.
Most of Mali’s history was told as stories. Griots often told
stories using music and dance.
“The instrument that I
play is called a KORA. I
strum the strings like a
guitar.”
I am a griot.
I am a teller of stories, and a singer
of songs.
I am the keeper of memories and
laws.
I am the teacher of kings and
children.
I hold the whole story of my
country in my head and in my
heart. I want to share it with you!
Mali Today!
Think about how your life is
different or the same!
Baobab Tree
Doungel home
Bamako Women Washing Clothes in the River
Bamako
Laundromat
Bamako Beef on the Hoof
Doungel Camel Riders
Doungel goats
Fulani elders
Fulani fridge
The Fulanis (Peuls) pour water over sand around the recipient that
holds the fruit and vegetables. The water seeps slowly through the
exterior clay pot and evaporates on the outside, dropping the
temperatures.
Fulani girls
Fulani kids
Fulani mom
Fulani
young man
Merchant selling meat
Millet & Chicken Sauce is the daily
food for many Malians.
Bean field at the edge
of the river.
Dabanaani food