1. MaliMali
Land of Gold & GriotsLand of Gold & Griots
A griot of today
gold earrings
mudcloth

2. Prepared byPrepared by
Carol AlmarezCarol Almarez
Elementary Instructional TechnologyElementary Instructional Technology
Alleghany County Public SchoolsAlleghany County Public Schools
20052005

3. Sundiata: The Lion KingSundiata: The Lion King
 Prince of the MandinkaPrince of the Mandinka
people, who werepeople, who were
conquered by cruel Susuconquered by cruel Susu
 In 1230, he conqueredIn 1230, he conquered
the Susu peoplethe Susu people
 Under Sundiata, MaliUnder Sundiata, Mali
prospered and becameprospered and became
very rich by conquring.very rich by conquring.
 Died in 1255Died in 1255

4. Mansa MusaMansa Musa
 Several kings ruled afterSeveral kings ruled after
Sundiata’s deathSundiata’s death
 Mansa Musa wasMansa Musa was
grandson of Sundiata’sgrandson of Sundiata’s
half brotherhalf brother
 He became the greatestHe became the greatest
king of Mali in 1312king of Mali in 1312
 Under Mansa Musa, MaliUnder Mansa Musa, Mali
became a great tradingbecame a great trading
center especially withcenter especially with
Arabs.Arabs.
MiniFactMiniFact: MansameansEmperor or: MansameansEmperor or
KingKing

5. Mansa Musa and the HajjMansa Musa and the Hajj
 Mansa Musa became a devout MuslimMansa Musa became a devout Muslim
 Muslims must make a journey to Mecca called a ‘hajj’Muslims must make a journey to Mecca called a ‘hajj’
 Mansa Musa crossed Africa to reach MeccaMansa Musa crossed Africa to reach Mecca
 He took a huge caravan with him in 1324He took a huge caravan with him in 1324
 After that, everyone knew aboutAfter that, everyone knew about
the wealth of Mali and wanted to expand tradethe wealth of Mali and wanted to expand trade

6. The Mosque of Mali
The mosque at Djenne in Mali
was built with mud bricks.
Click for a movie

8. What did Mali trade?What did Mali trade?
 GoldGold
The dottedThe dotted
lines are tradelines are trade
routes fromroutes from
Mali to otherMali to other
parts ofparts of
AfricaAfrica

9. What else did they trade?What else did they trade?
 SaltSalt
 CopperCopper
 IvoryIvory
 ClothCloth
 Kola NutsKola Nuts
 SlavesSlaves
 BooksBooks
 ShellsShells
Camels, the ships of the desert, traveled in caravansCamels, the ships of the desert, traveled in caravans
bringing to Mali:bringing to Mali:
MiniFactMiniFact: This was before Columbus even sailed to: This was before Columbus even sailed to
the New World!the New World!

10. Why was Salt Important?Why was Salt Important?
 Mali often traded itsMali often traded its
gold for saltgold for salt
 Salt was sometimesSalt was sometimes
more valuable thanmore valuable than
gold!gold!
 People’s bodies needPeople’s bodies need
salt to livesalt to live
 In the desert heat,In the desert heat,
salt is lost throughsalt is lost through
perspirationperspiration
 Salt was used toSalt was used to
preserve foodpreserve food
 Salt was brought inSalt was brought in
large slabs (coins)large slabs (coins)
MiniFactMiniFact: The picture: The picture
behind these words isbehind these words is
also a slab of SALT!also a slab of SALT!
The man
is holding
a slab of
salt mined
recently
near
Timbuktu

11. TimbuktuTimbuktu
 A very importantA very important
city in Malicity in Mali
 Center of learningCenter of learning
for Muslimsfor Muslims
 Universities andUniversities and
schoolsschools
 Largest tradingLargest trading
center in Malicenter in Mali
 On the Niger RiverOn the Niger River
 TradeTrade
 FoodFood
 WashingWashing
Timbuktu
19th
century traders in
Timbuktu

12. The GriotsThe Griots
 Storytellers wereStorytellers were
called Griots or djelicalled Griots or djeli
 They were importantThey were important
people in Malipeople in Mali
 They told the land’sThey told the land’s
historyhistory
 Most of what we knowMost of what we know
about ancient Maliabout ancient Mali
came from thecame from the
storytellersstorytellers
 They were advisors toThey were advisors to
the kingsthe kings
This is a 19th
century griot of
Mali with his instrument

13. MaliMali
TodayToday