At The Height Of Its Power, The Mali Empire Controlled The Trade Of Which Items?
Timbuktu, French Tombouctou, is a city in the western African country of Mali. Oft used as a pop term to draw a distant and mystical place, the city of Timbuktu was historically significant equally an area of vibrant merchandise. In the 12th century, slaves and goods such as salt, gold, and ivory were among the prime commodities traded.
This lesson will concentrate on trade across the Sahara Desert, focusing on why Timbuktu became the centre of trade, what kind of goods were exchanged, the spread of Islam from North Africa into West Africa, the importance of camels every bit a means of transportation, and the enormous scale of the merchandise route.
The 2d part of this lesson will focus on the Kingdom of Mali at the height of its power under the leadership of Mansa Musa. The influence of Islam on Musa's leadership will exist highlighted by concentrating on his pilgrimage to Mecca and the structure of the Great Mosque. Finally, the lesson will explain why Timbuktu was not just a centre of trade, just besides a centre of learning and why it is now considered a World Heritage site.
Trade across the Sahara Desert
Camel caravans every bit the means of send
Traders moved their goods beyond the Sahara in large groups called caravans. Camels were the master fashion of transportation and were used to carry goods and people. The camel was the most important part of the caravan. Without the camel, trade across the Sahara would have been incommunicable. Camels are uniquely adapted to survive long periods without h2o. They can besides survive large changes in torso temperature allowing them to withstand the heat of the day and the cold of dark in the desert.
Sometimes slaves carried goods as well. Travel by camel caravan was slow, strenuous, and unsafe. Hazards such as excessive oestrus, stifling sandstorms, death by starvation, thirst, and attacks by raiders added to the possibility of getting lost. Despite all this, trans-Saharan merchandise along caravan routes linking oases persisted from very early times. The Silk Roads were already in utilise in the belatedly Bronze Age, though intensive use of cross-desert roads was triggered by the domestication of the camel. Caravans included on average a thousand camels, sometimes reaching as many as 12 000 animals. Runners were sent ahead to oases to ship out water when the caravan was still days away. Large caravan processions were safer considering they offered protection from bandits. Today nearly cross-desert transport is through an all-encompassing tarmac road network in addition to send past air and body of water. Tuareg camel caravans still travel on the traditional Saharan routes, carrying salt from the desert interior to communities on the desert edges.
Goods including salt brought from Europe and Due north Africa into Republic of mali where they were exchanged for aureate, slaves, ivory and ostrich feathers
In the ancient empire of Mali, the nearly important industry was the gold industry, while the other trade was the trade in common salt. Much gold was traded through the Sahara desert to the countries on the Due north African coast. The aureate mines of W Africa provided great wealth to West African Empires such every bit Ghana and Mali. Other items that were commonly traded included ivory, kola nuts, cloth, metal goods, beads, and likewise human beings in the slave trade.
Gold was bountiful in West Africa, and was used as a form of currency. It was also used by the wealthy equally decoration, worn on articles of vesture, and it was prized by many people. Worldwide, African gold was famous and many countries wanted it, and would trade for it. The merchandise in gold helped Mali stay very wealthy. The master item they would import was salt which they would use it for many things. Since salt was abundant in the North of Mali, but scarce in the South, they would accept to import it. Salt was mainly used to preserve foods, like meat, but also corpses, etc. Malians would also demand salt in their food, since they wouldn't unremarkably have much in their diet. They would too import things similar glass, ceramics, and precious stones from N Africa.
The spread of Islam across North Africa and into West Africa via traders during the 9th century
Islam had already spread into northern Africa by the mid-7th century A.D., merely a few decades after the Prophet Muhammad moved with his followers from Mecca to Medina in the neighbouring Arabian Peninsula. While the presence of Islam in West Africa dates dorsum to the 8th century, the spread of the faith in Northward Africa was a gradual and complex procedure. Islam slowly spread to regions that now brand up the modern states of Senegal, Gambia, Republic of guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, Republic of mali and Nigeria. Much of what we know virtually the early history of West Africa comes from medieval accounts written past Arab and North African geographers and historians. It is credible that the early on presence of Islam in Westward Africa was linked to trade and commerce with North Africa. Although trade between W Africa and the Mediterranean predated Islam, North African Muslims intensified the Trans-Saharan merchandise. Due north African traders were major players in introducing Islam into West Africa. Between the 8th and 9th centuries, Arab traders and travellers, and thereafter African clerics, began to spread the religion forth the eastern coast of Africa and to western and central Sudan.
The showtime converts to the religion were Sudanese merchants, followed by a few rulers and courtiers. The masses of rural peasants, however, remained relatively untouched. In the 11th century, the Almoravid intervention, led past a group of Berber nomads who were strict observers of Islamic constabulary, gave the conversion process a new momentum in the Ghana Empire and across.
The history of Islam in West Africa can be divided into three stages: containment, mixing, and reform. In the beginning stage, African kings contained Muslim influence by segregating Muslim communities; in the second stage African rulers composite Islam with local traditions as the population selectively appropriated Islamic practices; and finally in the third stage, African Muslims pressed for reforms in an effort to rid their societies of mixed practices and implement Sharia law.
The kingdom of Republic of mali
Mali at the height of its power under Mansa Musa in the early 14th century
Mansa Musa made an important marker in Mali by introducing the kingdom to Islam and making it one of the first Muslim states in northern Africa. He incorporated the laws of the Quran into his country's justice system. Cities such as Timbuktu and Gao were developed into international centres of Islamic learning and civilisation. Elaborate mosques and libraries were built. The university that emerged in Timbuktu might well have been the world's first. The cities became meeting places for poets, scholars, and artists. Musa became i of the nearly powerful and wealthiest leaders of his time. Mali became renowned in the imaginations of European and Islamic countries in the 14th century.
Mansa Musa'south pilgrimage to Mecca
Musa is most noted for his pilgrimage to Mecca, a visit which put Mali on the map. In 1339, Mali appeared on a "Map of the World" after his pilgrimage. In 1367, some other map of the globe showed a route leading from North Africa through the Atlas Mountains into Western Sudan. In 1375 a 3rd map of the world showed a richly attired monarch property a big gold nugget in the area south of the Sahara. As well, trade between Egypt and Mali now flourished.
On his return from Mecca, Musa brought back with him an Arabic library, religious scholars, and architects; who helped him build royal palace universities, libraries and mosques all over his kingdom. He strengthened Islam and promoted education, trade, and commerce in Mali. He laid the foundations for Walata, Jenne, and Timbuktu to get the cultural and commercial centre of North Africa.
Mansa Kankan Musa ruled with all the ideals of a fine Muslim king. He died in the mid-14th century, and Mali was never quite the same. Internal squabbling between ruling families weakened Republic of mali's governance and its network of states started to unravel. Then, in 1430, a group of Berbers seized much of Mali's territory, including Timbuktu.
Construction of the Swell Mosque
The Not bad Mosque of Djenné is the largest mud brick building in the globe and is considered past many architects to be the greatest achievement of the Sudano- Sahelian architectural style, albeit with definite Islamic influences. Originally built in the 13th or 14th century, reconstruction of the current Peachy Mosque began in 1906 and was probably completed between 1907 and 1909. The mosque'southward structure was supervised and guided past the caput of Djenné'due south mason society, Ismaila Traoré. At the time, Djenné was part of the colony of French W Africa and the French may accept offered political and economical support for the structure of both the mosque and a nearby madrasa. The structure of the pocket-sized town of Djenné is demarcated past rivers with approximately a population of 23,000, and it's close to 2,000 houses mostly retaining Malian traditional styles.
The city of Timbuktu
Leo Africanus's eyewitness stories of his travels and Descriptions of Timbuktu in his book Description of Africa (1550)
For centuries caravan travel was the central means of transportation for goods traded between the Mediterranean and the Sudan. Material, salt, metals, pearls and writing paper were brought from Europe and the Maghreb into present-day Republic of mali, where they were exchanged for gold, slaves, ivory and ostrich feathers.
The last caravan routes were closed downwards in 1933. Leo travelled along these caravan routes, into the Saharan desert and twice to Timbuktu; once as a immature man, accompanying his uncle to visit the sultan of the Sudan; and once a few years later, on a longer trip through what was then known equally "Black Africa".
Below you will find Leo Africanus's clarification of Africa and specifically Timbuktu every bit written around 1492.
"The name of this kingdom is a modernistic one, after a urban center which was built by a rex named Mansa Suleyman in the year 610 of the hegira around twelve miles from a branch of the Niger River. The houses of Timbuktu are huts made of clay-covered wattles with thatched roofs. In the heart of the city is a temple built of stone and mortar, and in addition there is a big palace, constructed by the same architect, where the king lives. The shops of the artisans, the merchants, and especially weavers of cotton cloth are very numerous. Fabrics are as well imported from Europe to Timbuktu, borne by Berber merchants. The women of the city maintain the custom of veiling their faces, except for the slaves who sell all the foodstuffs. The inhabitants are very rich, specially the strangers who have settled in the country; so much so that the current king has given ii of his daughters in marriage to two brothers, both businessmen, on business relationship of their wealth. There are many wells containing sweetness water in Timbuktu. Grain and animals are arable, and then that the consumption of milk and butter is considerable. But salt is in very short supply because it is carried here from Tegaza, some 500 miles from Timbuktu. I happened to be in this metropolis at a fourth dimension when a load of common salt sold for fourscore ducats. The king has a rich treasure of coins and gold ingots.
The imperial court is magnificent and very well organized. When the king goes from one metropolis to another with the people of his court, he rides a camel and the horses are led past hand past servants. If fighting becomes necessary, the servants mountain the camels and all the soldiers mount on horseback. When someone wishes to speak to the male monarch, he must kneel before him and bow downwardly; but this is merely required of those who have never before spoken to the rex, or of ambassadors. This king makes war simply upon neighboring enemies and upon those who exercise not want to pay him tribute. When he has gained a victory, he has all of them--even the children--sold in the marketplace at Timbuktu.
Merely small, poor horses are born in this state. The merchants utilise them for their voyages and the courtiers to movement nearly the city. But the proficient horses come from Barbary. They make it in a caravan and, ten or twelve days later, they are led to the ruler, who takes as many equally he likes and pays accordingly for them.
The king is a declared enemy of the Jews. He will not let whatsoever to live in the city. If he hears it said that a Berber merchant frequents them or does business organisation with them, he confiscates his goods. There are in Timbuktu numerous judges, teachers and priests, all properly appointed by the rex. He greatly honours learning. Many mitt-written books imported from Barbary are besides sold. In that location is more than profit fabricated from this commerce than from all other merchandise.
Instead of coined money, pure gilded nuggets are used; and for small purchases pocket-sized cowry shells carried from Persia.
The people of Timbuktu are of a peaceful nature. They accept a custom of almost continuously walking about the city in the evening (except for those that sell gold), between 10 PM and one AM, playing musical instruments and dancing. The citizens have at their service many slaves, both men and women.
The metropolis is very much endangered by fire. At the time when I was there on my 2nd voyage, half the urban center burned in the infinite of five hours. But the wind was violent and the inhabitants of the other half of the metropolis began to movement their belongings for fear that the other half would burn.
There are no gardens or orchards in the area surrounding Timbuktu."
Timbuktu equally a trade center on the trans-Saharan caravan route
The Trans-Saharan merchandise route was conducted throughout a vast region betwixt the Mediterranean countries and sub-Saharan Africa. It was an important trading route commencing from the early 8th century to late 16th century. Every bit a place where endless numbers of people practised trade; the Sahara was surrounded by many small trading routes. The institution of trade interconnected the Europeans to the African empires of Ghana, Republic of mali, and Songhai. Nevertheless, travelling across the Sahara was difficult; transportation relied and gravely depended on camels.
In 1235, the Ghana Empire collapsed and the Islamic Mali Empire ascended to rule. Due to the potent Muslim push at the fourth dimension, many of Ghanaians converted to Islam. Though the gold-salt trade continued to linger, a second major gold-table salt trade road emerged. This road weaved through the Sahara and continued into Arab republic of egypt's interior. As both routes thrived, the growing impact of Egypt's culture extended throughout Sudan. Under the Mali Empire, wealthy towns proliferated. Particular cities such as, Gao and Djenné, of the Niger bend developed with great prosperity. As for Timbuktu, it became widely known as a urban center of fortune. The growth of the Republic of mali Empire led to an extension of the region into the Savannah and forest. Western routes were developed and with that, cites such every bit Ouadane, Oualata, Chinguetti, Begho, and Bono Manso emerged along important trading routes.
The Portuguese expeditions from the West African coast created new routes for merchandise between Europe and Westward Africa. European bases on the declension were established late in the 16th century. Equally the Saharan route was a treacherous route, it resulted in a weakening of political and economic influence in North Africa. In 1591, the Moroccan War devastated Timbuktu and Gao, the meaning trading centres. The outcome of the war reduced merchandise significantly. The trans-Saharan trade routes still connected after the state of war. After the French invasion railroads were constructed and Westward African trade routes became dominant. From the mid-20th century various nations were granted independence.
Askiah Muhammad's Reign
Goods coming from the Mediterranean shores and salt existence traded in Timbuktu for gold
From the 11th century and onward, Timbuktu became an important port where goods from West Africa and Due north Africa were traded. Goods coming from the Mediterranean shores and salt were traded in Timbuktu for golden. Salt, books and gold were the main commodities that were traded in Timbuktu. Table salt was extracted from the mines of Tegaza and Taoudenit in the due north, aureate from the immense golden mines of the Boure and Banbuk and books were the refined work of black and Arabs scholars.
Timbuktu had been an important trans-Saharan trade road. Goods coming from Mediterranean shores and salt from primal Sahara were exchanged in Timbuktu for gold. The prosperity of Timbuktu attracted both African scholars and Arab traders from Northward Africa.
The specialization of Timbuktu was in noesis and book merchandise. [This is according to the CAPS curriculum and does not solely focus on Muhammad'due south reign]
Under the reign of Askia Muhammed (1493-1591), Timbuktu became an important eye for Islamic learning, engineering science, medicine and architectures. With the campuses of Sankore Madressah (comparable to an Islamic Academy) attended by some 25,000 students, Timbuktu became an intellectual and religious centre and served as a distribution platform for scholars and books. Books were non just written in Timbuktu, merely they were also imported and copied at that place. There was indeed a local volume-copying industry in the town.
Hundreds and thousands of manuscripts were written over the grade of the centuries. Written in ornate calligraphy, the manuscripts stand for a compendium of learning on everything from law, sciences and medicine to history and politics. It is reported that Timbuktu made more profit from the trade in books than from any other line of business.
Timbuktu as a heart of learning
Mathematics, chemistry, physics, eyes, astronomy, medicine, history, geography, the traditions of Islam, regime laws and much more
The Golden Historic period of Islam is traditionally dated from the mid-7th century to the mid-13th century. During this menstruation Muslim rulers established 1 of the largest empires in history. "In Timbuktu there are numerous judges, scholars and priests, all well paid by the king, who greatly honours learned men. Many manuscript books coming from Barbary are sold. Such sales are more than profitable than any other appurtenances," wrote Leo Africanus in the 16th century. During this period, artists, engineers, scholars, poets, philosophers, geographers and traders in the Islamic world contributed to agronomics, the arts, economics, industry, law, literature, navigation, philosophy, the sciences, and technology, both past preserving earlier traditions and past adding inventions and innovations of their ain. Also at that time the Muslim globe became a major intellectual centre for science, philosophy, medicine and education.
Although mosques like Sankoré were centres of learning, much of the day-to-twenty-four hours instruction activity occurred more informally in the homes of scholars. The core of the Islamic didactics tradition is the manual of texts, which is handed downward through a chain of transmitters from the teacher to the educatee, preferably through the shortest and near prestigious prepare of intermediaries. The pupil would listen to the teacher's dictation, write their own copy and read information technology back, or mind to some other student read it. The scholars had their own private libraries to help them teach.
Timbuktu Manuscripts Project and South African collaboration
The city and its desert surroundings are an archive of handwritten texts in Standard arabic and in African languages in the Arabic script, produced between the 13th and the 20th centuries. The manuscript libraries of Timbuktu are pregnant repositories of scholarly production in Westward Africa and the Sahara. Given the large number of manuscript collections it is surprising that Timbuktu as an archive remains largely unknown and under-used.
The manuscripts provide a written testimony to the skill of African scientists, in astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, medicine and climatology in the Centre Ages.
Southward Africa is driving a projection to build a new library to house between 200 000 and 300 000 ancient manuscripts currently housed in 24 private libraries in and around the Malian city, and to train local librarians in the preservation of a treasure trove that is threatening, literally, to disintegrate. Launched in 2003, the Southward Africa-Mali manuscript project was the first official cultural project of the New Partnership for Africa'due south Development (NEPAD), the socio-economic development programme of the African Union. The Timbuktu Manuscripts, or Republic of mali Manuscripts, some of which engagement dorsum to the 13th century, are Arabic and African texts that discuss the metropolis's glorious past; when Muslim merchants would trade gold from W Africa to Europe and the Middle Eastward in return for salt and other goods. The manuscripts point to the fact that Africa has a rich legacy of written history, contrary to the popular notion that oral traditions alone preserved the continent's heritage. A South Africa-Mali Timbuktu Manuscripts Project was officially launched in 2003 and a major accomplishment of this project was the new library-annal building, which was inaugurated in Timbuktu in January 2009.
Why Timbuktu is a World Heritage Site
Recognising its significance every bit a site of African architecture and of its scholarly past, UNESCO declared Timbuktu a World Heritage Site in 1990. Timbuktu was a thriving centre of scholarship instrumental to the spread of Islam in Africa. Information technology retains iii notable mosques and one of the world's great collections of aboriginal manuscripts. This West African metropolis, long synonymous with the uttermost end of the Earth, was added to the World Heritage List in 1988, many centuries after its apex. Timbuktu tin can exist seen every bit an intellectual and spiritual upper-case letter and a centre for the propagation of Islam throughout Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries.
The criteria for declaring Timbuktu as a heritage site have been described as; a) interchange of values, (b) icon of an era and (c) interaction with the environment.
The Mosques of Mali and holy places of Timbuktu have played an essential role in the spread of Islam in Africa at an early flow. The three neat mosques of Timbuktu, restored by the Qadi Al Aqib in the 16th century, evidence to the golden age of the metropolis at the end of the Askia dynasty. The three mosques and mausoleums are outstanding examples to the urban urbanisation of Timbuktu.
Although continuously restored, these monuments are today under threat from desertification as radical Islamists, known as Ansar Dine, have taken over the small city in Mali, threatening destruction to monuments, religious sites, and priceless documents. Tourism has suffered from years of security problems. Gunmen seized three foreigners and killed a fourth on a street in Timbuktu concluding November. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility.
At The Height Of Its Power, The Mali Empire Controlled The Trade Of Which Items?,
Source: https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/grade-7-term-1-kingdom-mali-and-city-timbuktu-14th-century
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