Leadership in Mali
What is the name of the legendary leader and founder of Mali?
Sundiata
What river was Mali founded on?
The Niger River
What leader was famous for the spread of Islam in West Africa?
Mansa Musa
List three reasons that led to the decline of Mali.
poor leadership, too large of size, invaders, etc.
Who was the most famous leader of Mali, who reigned during the height of Mali's size, wealth, and prestige?
Mansa Musa
Timbuktu, Gao, and Djenne
What city is Mansa Musa famous for stopping in on his hajj?
Cairo, Egypt
Why did Mansa Musa stress education and learning to read?
Because as a Muslim, one must be able to read the Qur'an.
What title did Sundiata take?
Mansa
What two types of buildings was Mansa Musa most notable for building?
mosques and schools
Describe Mansa Musa's hajj. What did he bring with him?
Mansa Musa brought nearly 100 camels, each loaded with 300 pounds of gold. Roughly 60,000 men traveled with him.
What new resource did Sundiata introduce to Mali?
Cotton
Why was Sundiata's title significant? Who in the past had held this title?
Mansa was previously the title of local leaders. It is important because it was associated with both political and religious power.
Why did Arabic become the primary language of government, trade, and religion in Mali?
The Qur'an can only be written in Arabic. As more people converted to Islam and were encouraged to read the Qur'an in Arabic, the language became more prevalent than regional dialects.
What is a hajj?
A religious pilgrimage, or journey, to Mecca
Why was cotton important?
It was used to make cloth that was comfortable in the warm environment and could be sold for a high price.
How long did Mansa Musa rule Mali?
About 25 years.
How did Mansa Musa's hajj affect Mali? Why?
Mansa Musa's hajj brought international attention to Mali.
What affect did Mansa Musa's hajj have on the economy of Egypt? Why?
Mansa Musa gave away so much gold that it was no longer rare. For the next ten years, gold was devalued.
Name three common crops in Mali.
Cotton, rice, beans, onions, gold, salt, kola nuts