Military

Question 1

(In general) What does the military consist of?

Answer 1

Army, navy, Air Force and cavalry.

Question 2

What was the Mali military responsible for?

Answer 2

Defending the empire from invasions and expanding the empire by conquests of new lands.

Question 3

What did the Mali military consist of?

Answer 3

An army/infantry and the cavalry.

Question 4

What were people forced to do?

Answer 4

Some soldiers were forced to join the military from clans and bring their own weapons.

Question 5

What were the military’s ranks?

Answer 5

From generals who were the top commanders down to soldiers and slaves who formed the garrison forces to guard towns.

Question 6

How was the emperor able to pay for weapons?

Answer 6

With the money collected from taxing the civilians.

Question 7

How did the army keep the peace?

Answer 7

By putting down rebellions in smaller kingdoms bordering the central part of the empire and policing the many trade routes.

Question 8

What happened to captured soldiers?

Answer 8

Captured soldiers were taken as prisoners and forced to work for their conquerors as porters or garrison guards.

Question 9

What is the study of the Mali Empire’s military really?

Answer 9

A study of Mandinka military culture.

Question 10

Who were the Mandinka?

Answer 10

Early adopters of iron in West Africa, the role of blacksmiths was one of great religious and military prestige among them.

Question 11

What did this new found iron craft allow them to do?

Answer 11

By the 11th Century, manipulation of iron allowed the Mandinka to spread out over he borders of Mali

Question 12

Who were the Soninke?

Answer 12

The Soninke formed the first major organized fighting force in West Africa and the people they conquered became a major source of slaves.

Question 13

What were the cavalrymen equipped with?

Answer 13

Lances, sabres, long swords, imported chain mail and iron helmets.

Question 14

How big was the army Mali was able to build up?

Answer 14

Mali was able to build up a standing cavalry of around 10,000 horsemen and an army of around 90,000 men.

Question 15

How did the military culture grow under the leadership of the mansas?

Answer 15

The military culture and organization of the Mali moire grew in power and sophistication until reaching its peak between 1250 and 1450.

Question 16

What were the functions of Mali’s military?

Answer 16

• defend the empire
• expand the empire
• raid and loot, acquire goods and valuables
• keep law and order in the empire
• take land, children and people (to sell as slaves)
• put to work on farms in times of peace

Question 17

Military classifications:

Answer 17

• professionals or semi professionals
• voluntary or coerced
• had own weapons or were given weapons
• infantry or cavalry
• status according to rank; generals, soldiers, slaves

Question 18

Reason 1 why men didn’t join willingly

Answer 18

Not all men wanted to risk their lives in battle

Question 19

Reason 2

Answer 19

Some men might not have felt confident with their weapons if they were not better than those of their peers.

Question 20

Reason 3

Answer 20

Some may not have felt strong or healthy enough for the demands of combat.

Question 21

Reason 4

Answer 21

Some men might have feared losing out to plotting from their families when away from home.

Question 22

What did they need to make weapons? (1)

Answer 22

In order to make weapons like swords, daggers, spears and lances, the metal most suitable at the time was iron as it was strong and could be mounded into shape and sharpened.

Question 23

What did they need to make weapons? (2)

Answer 23

In order to extract iron from the ore, the ore had to be heated to a very high temperature and this required wood to make hot fires.

Question 24

What did they need to make weapons? (Conclusion)

Answer 24

The more weapons that were made, the more wood that was required.

Question 25

How many slaves was one horse worth?

Answer 25

1 horse = 15 slaves

Question 26

Who was the army exclusive to?

Answer 26

Men

Question 27

To make the army efficient the king provided?

Answer 27

• a wage in money and/or goods
• weapons
• food

Question 28

What type of men where preferably chosen sand why?

Answer 28

Men from richer families because they had access to better nutrition meaning they’re more likely to be bigger, healthier and stronger.

Question 29

What types of weapons were they armed with?

Answer 29

Swords, daggers, spears, lances, sabres, bows and arrows, shields and some of the first types of guns

Question 30

What is important for the men to be?

Answer 30

Well-trained for combat

Question 31

What are the benefits of the cavalry?

Answer 31

They are faster and have the advantage of surprise attacks.

Question 32

What is the F.O.R?

Answer 32

The Mali Empire (1300s - 1400s)