Term 1 - Mali and Timbuktu - Trade Flashcards
What is so special about the Western African kingdom Mali?
it was the most powerful kingdom in Africa in the 14th century
Name the famous Mali king during Mali’s high days
Mansa Musa
Which city in Mali was made rich and famous as a learning centre during Mansa Musa’s reign?
Timbuktu
Why did the Trans-Sahara trade-route exist?
Arabs from North Africa travelled to sell goods to the people from West Africa (like Mali)
True of false: Camel caravans could consist of a 1000 camels?
True
How long was the Trans-Sahara journey and how long did it take to travel
2400 KM
3 months
Give 5 reasons why the Sahara Desert was difficult to cross
Extreme heat (day) Extreme cold (night) Dreadful sandstorms No roads (get lost easily) Danger of running out of water
Which items were brought to Mali (or West Africa) by the Arabs to trade?
Rugs, swords, glass, spices, dyes, cloth beads, silk and perfume
What could Mali trade with?
GOLD Salt slaves Ivory Kola nuts Copper Ostrich feathers
True or false: There were two large salt mines in the South and three large gold mines in the North?
False - gold mines = South and salt = North
How did the Mali kingdom get so rich between 1230 and 1600?
They taxed all the trade that was done
How did Islam spread to Mali in the 9th century?
Via the Muslim traders from North Africa
Since when were the kings of Mali Muslim?
CE 1300
How did traders transport goods over longs distances?
They used the Niger river
True or false: During the 14th to 16th centuries the empire of the Kingdom of Mali was bigger than even the Mongol Empire in Asia and Eastern Europe?
False: Mali was the second biggest empire after the Mongol empire.
Why did the Kingdom of Mali become so rich during Mansa Musa’s reign?
Traders used the Niger River to transport goods
The minerals in Mali
The good system of government
Which two cities did Mansa Musa add to the Kingdom?
Timbuktu
Gao
Did Mansa Musa force everyone to follow Islam?
No - there was religious freedom (also allowing the ancestral religions) even though the state religion was Islam
To which city did Mansa Musa go in 1324 for his Pilgrimage?
Mecca
What was so amazing of what Mansa Musa did on Fridays during the pilgrimage?
He paid for mosques to be built where they were on the Friday
Why did the value of gold in Egypt drop during the pilgrimage?
Musa gave away so much gold (even to poor people)
How long did the 3000 mile pilgrimage takes
One year
When was the Great Mosque built in Timbuktu (by Mansa Musa) and who was the architect?
1326
Al-Sahil (architect - he got 200kg gold for his work - not bad)
Who wrote about Africa so that the Europeans of that Time could have a better understanding of Africa (16th century)
Leo Africanus (he wrote two books that were used extensively: African geography and Description of Africa)
Why was Timbuktu such an important and wealthy city?
It was the centre of the gold trade because it was situated on the edge of the Sahara Desert and 8 miles from the Niger river
Which goods came from Europe to Timbuktu?
ceramics silk cloth beads fine printed fabrics
Which goods did the traders want from the People of Mali?
Gold
Ivory
Wood
Slaves
Why did the Arab kings want slaves?
Servants
Soldiers
Agricultural workers
Why was salt at one time worth as much as gold?
It was very scarce in parts of the world in the 16th century
Study the Trade Routes Map in your handbook and workbook
Do it now - come on you can do it! (page 95)
Why did Timbuktu become a world famous centre of Islamic learning?
Because of the wealth they built 180 muslim schools and three universities for 25000 students
There also were scholars that came there
Then there were many libraries (one with 500000 books!)
Was the Koran the only focus of learning in Timbuktu
No: there were also other subjects taught: mathematics, chemistry, physics, optics, astronomy, medicine, history, geography, government laws, logic, botany, engineering, agriculture and music
Why did trade to Timbuktu in the 17th century begin to diminish?
European ships started to trade along the west coast of Africa - so Timbuktu was not the centre of trade anymore
What happened to the Mali Kingdom after Musa died?
The kingdoms of Mali fought against each other and became weak
Then the Morrocans invaded them and took all their wealth and burnt their libraries and killed or deported their scholars
When did the French colonise West Africa?
1893
When did Mali regain its independence as a Republic
1960
What does South Africa, UCT and Thabo Mbeki have to do with Timbuktu?
They helped start the Timbuktu Manuscripts Project (to display and preserve the old Arabian writings) to create the African renaissance so that Africans can be proud of their roots and culture.
Why was Timbuktu declared a World Heritage Site in 1988?
To protect and preserve its fascinating past in terms of architecture and learning (especially the manuscripts) and recognise its cultural contribution.
What was Mansa Musa called by his people?
Musa the magnificent
Lion of Mali
How did Musa create a strong and stable government?
The Empire was divided into provinces ruled by a governor
The villages in the provinces each had a mayor
How many people went with Musa on his pilgrimage?
60000 soldiers, officials, merchants, servants and slaves (and 80 camels each carrying 150kg of gold)
