The Mali Empire

Mali Government- B+

The Mali was the 2nd biggest empire in Africa. The founder of them was Sandiata Keita. He cared a lot about the trade routes and built a strong military to protect them. He also created the constitution of Mali. He created a government that was divided into groups. These groups were Personal Responsibilities, Social Organization, Property Rights, and Environmental Protection.

Multiple kings after Sanditia Keita, was Mansa Musa. Mansa Musa was greatly respected by Arab people, and he was the most well known of the Arabs too. Mansa Musa was a man of islamic faith, so while Mansa Musa was in charge he made a pilgrimage to Mecca. When he went to Mecca for it, he became more well known because of it. 

In the time of Mansa Musa, the Mali empire was divided into provinces. The provinces had towns, and the towns had mayors just like today. Mansa Musa died though, and things went downhill. Other empires started taking over parts of Mali, and no one knew what to do. That was the end of the Mali.

I gave the Mali Empire a B+ because they conquered lands well, they had very powerful, strong, and respectful leaders, but in the end it completely fell apart. Mansa Musas sons started to try to take over, but they couldn't do it so the Songhai invaded it. 

The man in the picture above is Mansa 
Musa.

Mali society- Grade: A-

                In Mali’s society they did have slavery, but the treatment of the slaves was not awful.  The slaves were not beat and worked to death by their owners; they were actually given jobs in the government.  A few of the jobs given were royal administrators and soldiers in the Mali army.  In every government there is a court.  For over a decade the slaves even ruled the court in the Mali government.

                Mali’s society was very fair and everyone, even the slaves, were treated close to the same.  Since there are guide lines of the matenince, treatment, and subsequent freedom of slaves, the slaves of Mali were almost as equal as the Mali citizens.  Also there are social movements in Mali, like the spread of different religions.

                I gave Mali’s society a “A-” for a grade because they do a great job of keeping their government fair.  Also they don’t treat slaves like they are less superior to the rest of the society.  Other empires have different classes of society making their people think one is better than the other when really all people are the same no matter what race or gender they are.

Religion – Grade: C+

                Around the world religion brings us together.  In different regions there are different religions with different values.  In Mali their main religion is Islam.  Islam is a monotheistic religion.  Islam’s believe that God is the only reason to be living, and they believe no one is comparable to God.  The people of Mali believe that their chief has direct contact with the spirit that helps make their crops grow.  This creates a strong bond within their community. The spirits official title is the spirit of the land, the God can make the Islam’s crops grow or fail to grow. The Islam’s also follow the five pillars of Islam.

                The five pillars of Islam state that with in your life time:

1. Declaration of faith

2. Pray five times a day facing mecca

3. Give to the poor

4. Observe fast of Ramadan

5. Pilgrimage to mecca

                I gave Mali’s religion a “C+“ for a grade because they are not very pushy when it comes to the values of their religion.  Though they do wish you would do all of what you can of the five pillars, which can get expensive.  In other empires they do not make you spend money you don’t have they just ask you do what you can even if that means praying when you can, and going to church as often as possible.

Mali Technology- C

        The Mali people were good at making inventions that helped the military. They produced leather, to make shields and armor for fighting. They also advanced in farming, like farming rice, beans, sorghum, millet, peanuts, papaya and cotton. They also produced a lot of gold. They had slave workers, herdsmen, and iron, copper, and gold mines. This was pretty technologically advanced for their time, but they didn't really create anything new. They just kind of did what everyone else did, but they were very skilled at it so they were able to do it more.

I gave Mali technology a C because they didn't create any brand new invention, they just grew crops, and herded like everyone else. They were more skilled at it so they could have more farmers, more miners, more slaves, and more exports. So, I guess they were somewhat advanced.