Justice Miranda
11.13.12
Cultural Analysis
Professor Peterson (1:40pm)
The Overlooked but Great Malian Empire
The Mali Empire is one that is overlooked, but yet considered “the greatest power in the
Western Sudan”1 according to David Conrad. When one thinks of the Malian Empire, not much
comes to mind. When one hears of Ghana, there is usually more that is brought up and
remembered bout the empire’s reign. Though the Mali Empire wasn’t as well known as its
surrounding empires, the reign that the empire had was a memorable one. Why was the Mali
Empire so successful? Despite its short reign, the Malian Empire was more victorious than
Ghana because of the communities use of their resources and because of their powerful kings.
The great Malian Empire dates from the early 13th century to the late 15th century. The
Annenberg Foundation says that, “After Ghana fell because of invading forces and internal
disputes, Mali rose to greatness. . .”2. Though Ghana fell because of the given reasons, the
empire also had a terrible drought that lasted several years. This drought hindered the empire
from producing as much as they usually did. The drought also caused the gold, which made them
such a great empire, to go deeper into the soil which eventually made the gold unrecognizable
and thus unfound. Because of all the turmoil going on in Ghana during this time, the Mali people
1
David Conrad, Empires of Medieval West Africa: Ghana, Mali, and Songhay (New
York, 2005), 33.
2
Annenberg Foundation, "Collapse: Mali and Songhai." Accessed September 18, 2012.
www.learner.org/exhibits/collapse/mali.html
saw this as an opportunity for greatness. According to the Virginia Department of Education
“The Mali Empire began when a small Malinke Kingdom within the Ghana Empire grew ever
more powerful”3, this allowed the Mali Empire to become so well known. Mali took advantage
of Ghana being at its weakest point to come in and take over. Though the empire started as a
small kingdom, it eventually rose to be the greatest ancient African empire. Ghana was the
empire that had the closest affiliation with the Mali Empire. Though Ghana had the longest reign
out of the three famous African Empires (Songhai, Mali, and Ghana), Mali is the Empire that has
made a lasting impression.
There were many differences in both the Malian and Ghanaian empires, but the main
difference that determined their economic stability was trade. The Mali Empire had the Niger
River to utilize, unlike the Ghanaian Empire. Ghana was well known for their trading just as
Mali was. Though the Ghanaian Empire traded mainly gold and salt, the Mali Empire traded
gold, salt, dried fish oil, and even ceramics. Also, the Mali had the Niger River to utilize, unlike
the Ghana. The Niger River became the Mali Empire’s main source of income during its reign.
Ghana’s geographical location allowed its citizens to utilize the deserts and the Mediterranean,
which aren’t as great or as resourceful as the Niger River alone.4
The Niger River is such an important factor in the Malian Empire’s successful reign. The
Mali Empire started off as a small kingdom of multiple villages around the upper Niger River
area. The empire’s geographical placement allowed the empire to surpass any expectations that
surrounding empires had. Mali’s geographical placement allowed the empire to culturally and
economically advance into the, unknown, but powerful empire that it eventually succeeded to be.
3
Virginia Department of Education, "Mali Ancient Crossroads of Africa." Accessed September 18, 2012.
www.mali.pwnet.org/history_maliempire.htm
4
Roderick McIntosh, "The Inland Niger Delta before the Empire of Mali," Evidence
from Jenne-Jeno, 22 (1981): 1-22.
The Niger was a means of transportation, trade, and overall, the medium in which the empire’s
wealth stimulated from. The Niger River enabled the kingdom to develop a far more advanced
society. The Malian society became so diverse due to trade. Trade was the main medium of the
exchange of cultures, religions, and even languages. Though the Niger was a main component in
the empire becoming what it is known as now, the kings were the ultimate driving force in the
production of the great empire.5
The Malian kings are now the reason why Mali is still relevant in history. Philip Koskow
says that “In the Mande language, Mali means “where the king resides”6. The first kings were all
hunter kings and in the Mali culture, hunters had a spiritual connection to the bushes.7 This
spiritual connection showed that the kings were connected to God which illustrated that they
were called in some way to lead the empire. The Mande people had their own stories about how
the empire came into existence. They usually call the story of the empire The Sunjata Epic
named after the great king Sunjata Keita.8 Mali was an empire that was known for the great
Sunjata king that conquered many lands and succeeded at making the Mali Empire the great
empire that it was. Sunjata was known as the “Lion of Mali” because of his persistence on
conquering the Empire and becoming king. Sunjata was a king that wanted to expand his land
and make an empire that was well known. Sunjata was the starting force in why the Mali Empire
became the “greatest power in the Sudan”.
5
Virginia Department of Education, "Mali Ancient Crossroads of Africa." Accessed September 18, 2012.
www.mali.pwnet.org/history_maliempire.htm
6
Philip Koslow, Mali: Crossroads of Africa , (Mexico: Chelsea House Publishers,
1995),
7
Levtzion Nehemia, Ancient Ghana and Mali, (New York: 1980), 55 -63.
8
David Conrad, Empires of Medieval Africa: Ghana, Mali, Songhay, (New York:
2005), chap. 2.
Another king that contributed in the great empire’s success was Mansa Musa. During his
reign, Mali extended larger than Western Europe.9 Musa is the reason trade became so extensive
in the empire. During his reign, the expansion of Malian territory eventually expanded the trade
routes. Musa is well known for the expansion of the kingdom and the trade routes, but the thing
that he is probably most known for is his dedication to his faith. He was one of the few kings that
journeyed to Mecca, the holy city of Islam. Because of this pilgrimage, he was able to form
relationships with other countries like Arabia and Egypt which allowed them to eventually form
alliances with each other. This also expanded their trading sources. “As a result of his
pilgrimage, the name Mansa Musa became known not only to Egypt and Arabia but throughout
Europe.10” Musa was so well known throughout Europe that Koslow believes “. . . It was Mansa
Musa who finally brought Mali to the attention of the world.11” Where Sunjata aspired to expand
the Malian Empire, Musa actually succeeded in doing so. Mansa Musa is now one of the major
factors in which the Mali Empire became so great.
Though most debunk the empire’s success, The Mali Empire was the greatest ancient
African Empire. Mali succeeded in not only trade and economic stability, but in territorial
advancement and expansion as well. The Niger River was well utilized to the point of riches and
cultural advancements that many early empires don’t obtain. Also, King Sunjata and Mansa
Musa were two main components in the significance of the Mali Empire. With these factors all
being utilized during the two centuries that the empire reined, the outcome of greatness and
power was bound to happen. Most historians don’t see the greatness that the empire became to
9 The
Metropolitan Museum of Art, "The Empires of the Western Sudan: Mali Empire." Accessed September 18,
2012. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mali/hd_mali
10
Philip Koslow, Mali: Crossroads of A frica, (Mexico: Chelsea House Publishers,
1995), 23-33.
11
IBID
be due to lack of documentation, but the amount of land, alliances, and money the empire
obtained in its short reign is one that should not be overlooked.
Bibliography:
1. Annenberg Foundation, "Collapse: Mali and Songhai." Accessed September 18,
2012. www.learner.org/exhibits/collapse/mali.html
2. Conrad, David. Empires of Medieval West Africa: Ghana, Mali, and Songhay. New
York, 2005.
3. Koslow, Philip. Mali: Crossroads of Africa. Mexico: Chelsea House Publishers.
1995.
4. McIntosh, Roderick. "The Inland Niger Delta before the Empire of Mali." Evidence
from Jenne-Jeno, No 22. (1981): 1-22.
5. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, "The Empires of the Western Sudan: Mali
Empire." Accessed September 18, 2012.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mali/hd_mali
6. Nehemia, Levtzion. Ancient Ghana and Mali. New York. 1980.
7. Virginia Department of Education, "Mali Ancient Crossroads of Africa." Accessed
September 18, 2012. www.mali.pwnet.org/history_maliempire.htm