Mali+Kings



Mansa Musa and Sundiata Keita were the most popular kings of the Mali Empire.


 * Mansa Musa:** Mansa Musa ruled from 1307-about 1337. While he was king he did many great things. He took over major trading cities, Timbuktu and Gao. Mansa Musa converted his Empire into Islam, and made Timbuktu a center of Muslim Scholarship. Mansa Musa became a devoted Muslim, but kept his original beliefs. He made mosques in Timbuktu that were built by an architect named Al-Sahili. He even made merchants and traders wear Muslim robes and turbans.To keep good control of his empire he sent provincial goveners to keep an eye and help control each part of the empire. The most famous thing that Mansa Musa did was a pilgrimage to Mecca (holy city for Islam). He brought 500 slaves, many camels, and elephants. Each slave would carried 6 pounds of gold. The elephants carried 100. He convinced a spanishh achitect to come back with him and build mosques and palaces for him. Mansa Musa was so genourous with his gold that not 1 person in Cairo didn't have a piece of gold. Since everyone had gold, the value of money dropped tremendously.



Mansa Musa Holding a gold Nugget. Back ground is map of ancient Africa and Europe. Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansa_Musa

These kings did a great job on ruling their empire, by using great strategies and keeping their empire strong.
 * Sundiata Keita:** Sundiata Keita founded the Mali Empire in 1235 and ruled to about 1260. Sundiata became powerful by defeating King Sosso in 1235Sundiata was first named Mari Diata, and later was called Sundiata, or lion prince. Sundiata went on many tripsand had great many victories. He soon made his empire one of the largest and wealthiest empires of ancient africa! He made Kangaba the capital of his empire.

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