A brief analysis of the Mali Empire
Also known historically as Manden Kurumfaba, it was an empire in West Africa that lasted from 1230 to 1600 AD. The empire was founded by Santa Keita and was known for the wealth of its rulers.
It was the largest empire in West Africa and had a profound impact on the culture of the region through the spread of its language, laws, and customs in the regions along the Niger River and other regions made up of numerous vassal kingdoms and provinces.
Mali during the former empire
Modern oral legend records that the Mandinka kingdom of Mali or Manden existed for centuries before being unified by Sondiata, a Marimansa, also known as Marijata I, a small state in the southern part of the Ouagado Soningkai Empire (Ghana Empire).
The area consists of mountains, savannas, and forests, providing ideal protection and resources for hunters. Those who did not live in the mountains formed small city-states such as Toruń, Kaba and Niani.
Around 1140, the Soso kingdom of Canaga, a former vassal of Vargado, began conquering the lands of its old master. By 1180, it had even conquered Vargado, forcing Soningai to pay tribute.
In 1203, King Soso of the Kante clan came to power and reportedly terrorized much of Manden, stealing women and goods from Dodugu and Kri.
After years of exile, first at the court of Ouagadou, then in Mema, and finally at the Prince, Sandiata, who eventually became the founder of the Malian Empire, was found by the Niani delegation and asked to fight Soso and liberate the kingdom of Manden.
Around 1234, he returned with the combined armies of Mema, Ouagadou and all the rebellious city-states of Mandinka, Maghan Santa Fea or Sumangulu, leading a rebellion against the kingdom of Kaniaga. The combined armies of North and South Manden defeated the Soso army of Kirina in the campaign, circa 1235.
This victory led to the decline of the Kingdom of Kaniaga and the rise of the Mali Empire. After the victory, King Somaro disappeared and the Mandinca captured the last city of Soso.
Maghan Santa Fea was proclaimed "Famasfama" and received the title "Mansa", roughly translated as emperor. At the age of 18, he gained dominion over all twelve kingdoms in a coalition called Manden Kurumfabah.
He was crowned under the name of Sunidat Keita and became the first Mandinka emperor. Thus, the name Keita became a clan/clan and began to rule.
Mali Empire
The Mali Empire covered a larger area and for a longer period of time than any other West African country before or after. What makes this possible is the decentralized nature of statewide administration. However, Mansa managed to retain taxes and nominal control of the region without provoking an uprising of his subjects.
Officials at the village, town, city and district levels are locally elected, and it is only at the state or provincial level that the central government in Niani visibly intervenes. The provinces elect their own governors through their own customs (elections, succession, etc.), but the governors must be approved by Mansa and subject to his supervision.
The Mali Empire prospered because trade was above all else. It owned three huge gold mines within its borders, and the empire taxed every ounce of gold or salt that entered its borders. By the early 14th century, Mali was the source of almost half of the Old World's gold, which was exported from the mines of Bambuk, Bulle and Garam.
There is no standard currency in the entire field, but there are several forms that stand out in various regions. The Sahel and Saharawi towns of the Mali Empire served both as transit points for long-distance caravan trade and as trading centers for various West African products such as salt and copper.
The Mali Empire reached its maximum size under Lei Keta Mansas (1312-1389). The total area of the empire included almost all the land between the Sahara Desert and the coastal forests.
It spans modern-day Senegal, southern Mauritania, Mali, northern Burkina Faso, western Niger, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast and northern Ghana.
The first ruler of the Raiya lineage was Kankan Musa Keita, also known as Mansa Musa. He began a large-scale construction program to build mosques and madrasahs in Timbuktu and Gao.
He also transformed Sankore from an informal madrasah to an Islamic university. By the end of Mansa Musa's reign, Sankore University had transformed into a university with a strong faculty and the largest collection in Africa since the Library of Alexandria.
During this period, Mali's main centres of living had a higher standard of living. Sergio Domien, an Italian scholar of art and architecture, wrote of this period: "Thus laid the foundations of urban civilization. At the height of its power, Mali had at least 400 cities, while the interior of the Niger Delta was very densely populated. ”
The fall of the empire
According to Sultan Tariq, Mansa Mahmud Keita IV was the last emperor of Manden. In 1599, he attacked the city of Jenné with his Fulani allies, hoping to take advantage of the defeat at Songhai.
Eventually, Djenné's army intervened and forced Mansa Mahmud Keita IV and his army to retreat to Kangaba.
The battle marked the effective end of the great Mali Empire and laid the groundwork for the emergence of numerous smaller West African states. Around 1610, Mahmud Keita IV died.
Oral legend says that he had three sons who fought for Manden's remains. After the death of Mahmud Keita IV, none of Keita ruled Manden, thus ending the Mali Empire.
conclusion
Until the mid-17th century, the kingdom remained under the control of the Mandinka. The three states fought each other, if not more than they fought with outsiders, but generally ceased to compete in the face of invasion. This trend would continue into the colonial era, against the Tukulo enemy from the West. #历史开讲 #
