[18][16], Another hypothesis suggests that the name Mali is derived from Mand mali "hippopotamus", an animal that had special significance to the Keitas, and that Mand means "little manatee". [28] The Tarikh al-fattash claims that Musa accidentally killed Kanku at some point prior to his hajj. He also made Eid celebrations at the end of Ramadan a national ceremony. Al-Qalqashandi quotes al-'Umari as spelling it. He recruited scholars from the wider Muslim world to travel to Mali, such as the Andalusian poet Abu Ishaq al-Sahili, and helped establish Timbuktu as a center of Islamic learning. Al-Nasir expected Musa to prostrate himself before him, which Musa initially refused to do. Embedded by Arienne King, published on 17 October 2020. The voyage is often incorrectly attributed to a Mansa Abu Bakr II, but no such mansa ever reigned. After the publication of this atlas, Mansa Musa became cemented in the global imagination as a figure of stupendous wealth.After his return from Mecca, Mansa Musa began to revitalize cities in his kingdom. [93] Only at the state or province level was there any palpable interference from the central authority in Niani. But the Mali Empire built by his predecessors was too strong for even his misrule and it passed intact to Musa's brother, Souleyman Keita in 1341. Under his reign, Mali conquered the neighbouring kingdom of Songhai. However, territories that were crucial to trade or subject to revolt would receive a farba. The ton-tigi belonged to an elite force of cavalry commanders called the farari ("brave men"). [123] Segou, defended by Bitn Coulibaly, successfully defended itself and Mama Maghan was forced to withdraw. Yet native sources seem to pay him little attention. [98] Musa's hajj, and especially his gold, caught the attention of both the Islamic and Christian worlds. [44] Niani's reputation as an imperial capital may derive from its importance in the late imperial period, when the Songhai Empire to the northeast pushed Mali back to the Manding heartland. Mali's wealth in gold did not primarily come from direct rule of gold-producing regions, but rather from tribute and trade with the regions where gold was found. The Malian and Moroccan armies fought at Jenne on 26 April, the last day of Ramadan, and the Moroccans were victorious thanks to their firearms and Bukar's support, but Mahmud was able to escape. It wasn't long before the new kingdom of Great Fulo was warring against Mali's remaining provinces. [16], Al-Yafii gave Musa's name as Musa ibn Abi Bakr ibn Abi al-Aswad (Arabic: , romanized:Ms ibn Ab Bakr ibn Ab al-Aswad),[17] and Ibn Hajar gave Musa's name as Musa ibn Abi Bakr Salim al-Takruri. [114] However, the Songhai do not maintain their hold on the Malian capital. [19], Much of what is known about Musa comes from Arabic sources written after his hajj, especially the writings of Al-Umari and Ibn Khaldun. Imperial Malian architecture was characterised by Sudano-Sahelian architecture with a Malian substyle, which is exemplified by the Great Mosque of Djenne. Another testimony from Ibn Khaldun describes the grand pilgrimage of Mansa Musa consisting of 12,000 slaves: "He made a pilgrimage in 724/1324 []. Furthermore, his hajj in 1324 was in some ways an act of solidarity that showed his connection to other rulers and peoples throughout the Islamic world. In the 1450s, Portugal began sending raiding parties along the Gambian coast. He made a pilgrimage to Mecca during the reign of Mamluk Sultan An-Nasir Muhammad (r. 12981308), but died on his voyage home. . Songhai forces under the command of Askia Muhammad I defeated the Mali general Fati Quali Keita in 1502 and seized the province of Diafunu. [16] However, al-Umari gives Mali as the name of the capital province and Ibn Khaldun refers to Mali as a people, with each giving different names for the capital city itself. When Mansa Musa was giving gold away, he was following 2 . Bowmen formed a large portion of the field army as well as the garrison. Mansa Mahmud Keita II's rule was characterised by more losses to Mali's old possessions and increased contact between Mali and Portuguese explorers along the coast. Consequently, the name of Mali and Timbuktu appeared on 14th century world maps. Free warriors from the south came armed with bows and poisonous arrows. Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca happened between 1324 and 1325. However, many believe Mansa Musa's wealth outdoes that of all modern billionaires. In Niani, Musa built the Hall of Audience, a building communicating by an interior door to the royal palace. [86] After Sakura's death, power returned to the line of Sunjata, with Wali's son Qu taking the throne. The Cairo that Mansa Ms visited was ruled by one of the greatest of the Mamlk sultans, Al-Malik al-Nir. However, Al-Nasir Muhammad returned Musa's earlier show of generosity with gifts of his own. The three states warred with each other as much, if not more, than they did against outsiders, but rivalries generally stopped when faced with invasion. [78] Nehemia Levtzion regarded 1337 as the most likely date,[72] which has been accepted by other scholars. He had so much gold that during his hajj to Mecca, the Mansa passed out gold to all the poor along the way. This is the least known period in Mali's imperial history. 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]. He also brought architects from the Middle East and across Africa to design new buildings for his cities. [70] Two noble brothers from Niani, of unknown lineage, went to Dioma with an army and drove out the Fula Wassoulounk. The buildings were constructed from slabs of salt and roofed with camel skins. 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, who is . Arabic sources omit Faga Leye, referring to Musa as Musa ibn Abi Bakr. After Ibn Khaldun's death in 1406, there are no further Arab primary sources except for Leo Africanus, who wrote over a century later. His 25-year reign (1312-1337 CE) is described as "the golden age of . [17] Whether Mali originated as the name of a town or region, the name was subsequently applied to the entire empire ruled from Mali. The child of this marriage received the first name of his mother (Sogolon) and the surname of his father (Djata). [42] Another source of income for Mali during Musa's reign was taxation of the copper trade. He intended to abdicate the throne and return to Mecca but died before he was able to do so. UsefulCharts, . Mansa Musa even built the Great Mosque of Djenn, one of the most famous mosques in Mali, to recognize his pilgrimage. Mali borrowed the practice to stem inflation of the substance, since it was so prominent in the region. [93] Musa may have brought as much as 18 tons of gold on his hajj,[94] equal in value to over US$957million in 2022. 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. It had a well-organised army with an elite corps of horsemen and many foot soldiers in each battalion. The Manding languages were spoken in the 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). [41] A particular challenge lies in interpreting early Arabic manuscripts, in which, without vowel markings and diacritics, foreign names can be read in numerous different ways (e.g. Musa is reported to have reigned for 25 years, and different lines of evidence suggest he died either. It is unknown from whom he descended; however, another emperor, Mansa Maghan Keita III, is sometimes cited as Mansa Mahmud Keita I. While spears and bows were the mainstay of the infantry, swords and lances of local or foreign manufacture were the choice weapons of the cavalry. Musa's reign is often regarded as the zenith of Mali's power and prestige. 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. Trade was Mali's form of income, and wealth. Mansa Musa (about 1280 - about 1337) was an emperor (mansa) of the Mali Empire during the 14th century. He made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca from 1324 to 1326. The identification of Niani as imperial capital is rooted in an (possibly erroneous) interpretation of the Arab traveler al Umari's work, as well as some oral histories. The dates of Musa's reign are uncertain. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. Musa is known for his wealth and generosity. [33] Some modern historians have cast doubt on Musa's version of events, suggesting he may have deposed his predecessor and devised the story about the voyage to explain how he took power. [93] Mansa Maghan Keita I spent wastefully and was the first lacklustre emperor since Khalifa Keita. by Spanish cartographers, shows West Africa dominated by a depiction of Mansa Musa sitting on a throne, holding a nugget of gold in one hand and a golden staff in the other. Robert Smith, "The Canoe in West African History", harvnb error: no target: CITEREFBourgeois1987 (, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Kitab al-Masalik wa al-Mamalik (Book of Highways and Kingdoms) Ab Ubayd Al-Bakri, "The Empire of Mali, In Our Time BBC Radio 4", "Tracing History in Dia, in the Inland Niger Delta of Mali -Archaeology, Oral Traditions and Written Sources". Abu Bakr was the first and only mansa to inherit through the female line, which has been argued to be either a break from or a return to tradition. Imperial Mali's horsemen also used iron helmet and mail armour for defence[146] as well as shields similar to those of the infantry. Musa stayed in the Qarafa district of Cairo, and befriended its governor, Ibn Amir Hajib, who learned much about Mali from him. 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,. This trend would continue into colonial times against Tukulor enemies from the west.[121]. In 1481, Fula raids against Mali's Tekrur provinces began. Mansa Musa brought the architect back to Mali to beautify some of the cities. [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". To Musa, Islam was "an entry into the cultured world of the Eastern Mediterranean". 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). The historian al-Umar, who visited Cairo 12 years after the emperors visit, found the inhabitants of this city, with a population estimated at one million, still singing the praises of Mansa Ms. Around 1550, Mali attacked Bighu in an effort to regain access to its gold. He became emperor in 1307. Sundjata is credited with at least the initial organisation of the Manding military. World History Publishing is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. The House of Saud is ruled by the descendants of King Abdulaziz, who founded and unified Saudi Arabia in 1932. [46] Kangaba became the last refuge of the Keita royal family after the collapse of the Mali Empire, and so has for centuries been associated with Sundiata in the cultural imagination of Mande peoples. Elephant ivory was another major source of wealth.When Mansa Musa went on a pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca in 1324 C.E., his journey through Egypt caused quite a stir. This can be interpreted as either "Musa son of Abu Bakr" or "Musa descendant of Abu Bakr." [57], Modern oral traditions also related that the Mandinka kingdoms of Mali or Manden had already existed several centuries before Sundiata's unification as a small state just to the south of the Sonink empire of Wagadou, better known as the Ghana Empire. However, from 1507 onwards neighboring states such as Diara, Great Fulo and the Songhai Empire chipped away at the outer borders of Mali. Mansa Fadima Musa Keita, or Mansa Musa Keita II, began the process of reversing his brother's excesses. Malink, also known as Mande, Mali, or Melle, was founded around 1200 CE, and under Mansa Musa's reign . Mansa Musa (Musa I of Mali) was the ruler of the kingdom of Mali from 1312 C.E. [72] In contrast, al-Umari, writing twelve years after Musa's hajj, in approximately 1337,[73] claimed that Musa returned to Mali intending to abdicate and return to live in Mecca but died before he could do so,[74] suggesting he died even earlier than 1332. [15], Musa ascended to power in the early 1300s[i] under unclear circumstances. [70][141] With the help of the river clans, this army could be deployed throughout the realm on short notice. [87] The figure of Fajigi combines both Islam and traditional beliefs. Watch the map animation on From Nothing:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOexUoPc6YUBe sure to subscribe to From Nothing for more African History:https://www.. U UsefulCharts 0 followers More information Mansa Musa Family Tree Rich Man [122] Their forces marched as far north as Kangaba, where the mansa was obliged to make a peace with them, promising not to attack downstream of Mali. The Mandinka went on to form the powerful and rich Mali Empire, which produced the richest Black man who ever lived, King Mansa Musa. Traveling from his capital of Niani on the upper Niger River to Walata (Oualta, Mauritania) and on to Tuat (now in Algeria) before making his way to Cairo, Mansa Ms was accompanied by an impressive caravan consisting of 60,000 men including a personal retinue of 12,000 enslaved persons, all clad in brocade and Persian silk. [45] He would have spent much time fostering the growth of the religion within his empire. The only Mandinka power spared from the campaign was Kangaba. Mansa Musa's personal name was Musa (Arabic: , romanized:Ms), the Arabic form of Moses. [47], According to Jules Vidal and Levtzion, citing oral histories from Kangaba and Keyla, another onetime capital was Manikoro or Mali-Kura, founded after the destruction of Niani. Mali was thriving for a long time, but like other west African kingdoms, Mali began to fall. Al-Umari reported that Mali had fourteen provinces. [102] The text of Ibn Khaldun says "Gao, at this time is devastated". [67] The Manden city-state of Ka-ba (present-day Kangaba) served as the capital and name of this province. [125] Farin was a general term for northern commander at the time. The farba could also take power away from the native administration if required and raise an army in the area for defence or putting down rebellions.[130]. As a result of steady tax revenue and stable government beginning in the last quarter of the 13th century, the Mali Empire was able to project its power throughout its own extensive domain and beyond. In the 17th year of his reign (1324), he set out on his famous pilgrimage to Mecca. Le Plerinage La Mecque de Mansa Musa (724725/13241325) d'aprs des Nouvelles Sources", "The Big Secret of Celebrity Wealth (Is That No One Knows Anything)", The International Journal of African Historical Studies, "West African empires. [93], Following Musa Keita III's death, his brother Gbr Keita became emperor in the mid-15th century. To Westerners, he seems to have been the greatest of Mali rulers, as visible in games like Civilization. He brought a large entourage with him which impressed people everywhere they went. In 14331434, the Mali Empire lost control of Timbuktu to the Tuareg, led by Akil The Catalan Atlas, created in 1375 C.E. [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. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. [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]. Online articles in the 21st century have claimed that Mansa Musa was the richest person of all time. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. His information about the empire came from visiting Malians taking the hajj, or pilgrim's voyage to Mecca. Side by side with the encouragement of trade and commerce, learning and the arts received royal patronage. The Camara (or Kamara) are said to be the first family to have lived in Manding, after having left, due to the drought, Ouallata, a region of Wagadou, in the south-east of present-day Mauritania. [102], The Songhai settlement effectively shook off Mali's authority in 1375. Inside the world's wealthiest", "Mansa Musa (Musa I of Mali) | National Geographic Society", "The 25 richest people who ever lived inflation adjusted", "Civilization VI the Official Site | News | Civilization VI: Gathering Storm Mansa Musa Leads Mali", International Journal of African Historical Studies, "Searching for History in The Sunjata Epic: The Case of Fakoli", "chos d'Arabie. Also, Sundiata divided the lands amongst the people assuring everyone had a place in the empire and fixed exchange rates for common products[127]. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. [75] It is possible that it was actually Musa's son Maghan who congratulated Abu al-Hasan, or Maghan who received Abu al-Hasan's envoy after Musa's death. Lange, Dierk (1996), "The Almoravid expansion and the downfall of Ghana", Der Islam 73 (2): 313351. His name was Mansa Musa, and he was a devout Muslim. "Mansa Musa Family Tree | Empire of Mali." After the loyalty or at least the capitulation of an area was assured, it was allowed to select its own dyamani-tigui. While in Mecca, conflict broke out between a group of Malian pilgrims and a group of Turkic pilgrims in the Masjid al-Haram. 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. [70] These men had to be of the horon (freemen) caste and appear with their own arms. [135] Gold nuggets were the exclusive property of the mansa and were illegal to trade within his borders. Kangaba, the de facto capital of Manden since the time of the last emperor, became the capital of the northern sphere.
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