40 Articles accompanied by questions

This comprehensive workbook on the Mali Empire offers students an in-depth exploration of one of West Africa’s most influential medieval civilizations. It contains carefully written articles covering a wide range of topics, including the empire’s geography, government, culture, daily life, religion, social classes, education, arts, literature, trade, military, technology, and gender roles. Students will also learn about key historical events, from the Almoravid invasions and the birth and rise of Sundiata Keita, to the reigns of Mansa Musa, Mansa Suleyman, and other rulers, including Mansa Musa’s famous hajj, the growth of Timbuktu, and the construction of Sankore University. Later developments, such as trade decline, invasions by the Mossi and Tuareg, the rise of the Songhai Empire, and Mali’s eventual fall around 1600, are also covered. Each article is paired with questions that reinforce comprehension, encourage critical thinking, and help students understand the lasting legacy of Mali’s wealth, culture, and influence in West Africa.

Topics:
Overview

Geography

Government

Culture

Daily Life

Religion

Social Classes

Food & Agriculture

Education

Arts & Entertainment

Clothing

Technology & Science

Trade & Commerce

Military & Warfare

Literature

Men’s Roles

Women’s Roles

Almoravid Invasions (late 1000s)

Birth of Sundiata Keita (c. 1217)

Sundiata’s Exile (early 1200s)

Battle of Kirina (c. 1235)

Founding of the Mali Empire (c. 1235)

Reign of Mansa Sundiata Keita (c. 1235–1255)

Spread of Islam (mid-1200s)

Reign of Mansa Uli (c. 1255–1270)

Reign of Mansa Wati and Khalifa (late 1200s)

Rise of Mansa Abu Bakr II (c. 1285)

Reign of Mansa Musa (1312–1337)

Mansa Musa’s Hajj (1324–1325)

Growth of Timbuktu (early 1300s)

Construction of Sankore University (c. 1320s)

Reign of Mansa Magha (1337–1341)

Rule of Mansa Suleyman (1341–1360)

Ibn Battuta visits Mali (1352–1353)

Reign of Mansa Musa II and others (mid-late 1300s)

Decline in Trade Routes (late 1300s–1400s)

Invasions by the Mossi and Tuareg (1400s)

Rise of the Songhai Empire (mid-1400s)

Fall of the Mali Empire (c. 1600)

Legacy of the Mali Empire