Mauritanians Research Paper

The empire was rich in gold and became a leading force in the trans-Saharan trade. The economy of Ancient Ghana received their wealth and power from the mines, the use of iron weapons, decimating neighboring villages, and farming along the river( ). The prosperity of the empire is mainly due to the role they played in the trans-Saharan trade, the empire traded with Muslim countries of the Middles east ( ). Gold and salt were the central bases of revenue, gold being extremely important to Ghana causing the empire to develop quickly. The trading activities that constituted the backbone of Ghana’s economy were the sale of gold, kola nuts, and ivory to cities along the Mediterranean, in exchange for salt ( ).

Unlike Ghana, the Mali Empire was dominated by Islam, due to the widespread Islamic merchants and conversions that occurred in during kingdoms. This is significant because it demonstrates that goods weren’t the sole exchange and that religion was able to penetrate West Africa and impact the native people. The main motive for this mass adaptation of Islam as the dominant religion stems from strategic aims, from previous kingdoms, to diminish possible attacks from Muslim territories across the Sahara. This created alliance between Mali and other Arab powers, “the might of the [Mali] Empire was such that the Arabs at times called on it for military aid” (Diop, 93). This was extremely beneficial for Mali because it was the premier power of antiquity, and also had progressive relationships with other Islamic kingdoms throughout the world.

Mali: Gold and Salt trade; reached its peak in 14th century; Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca; Islam

Mali the Empire Mali, an ancient civilization, was unquestionably an Empire due to their secure government, wealthy economy, and strong religious faith. Mali rose to power in 1235 after Ghana fell. Domination and riches were quickly gained through control of the gold and salt trade, an essential commerce system in Western Africa. Mansa Musa, Mali’s most admired king, had a huge affect on the success of the nation for his expertise in organization brought more wealth to the Empire. Firstly, the King of Mali ruled the Empire strictly, but was respectful of his people’s rights.

A lot of Mali’s success came from their very generous and humble ruler named Mansa Musa (Doc.4). Mansa Musa took a hajj to Mecca to learn and give a chance to the monotheistic culture of Islam. When he returned to Mali, he spread Islam throughout it and eventually it spread all throughout Western Africa by merchants bringing their culture and religion with them when they traded and spreading their beliefs. The capital of Mali was Timbuktu, a very successful city that produced many of Africa's greatest scholars at the time and had a library with many books and manuscripts that would have sold for a fortune (Doc.5). The government of Mali also had a very strict set of laws, most similar to Hammurabi's code of laws from ancient Babylonia. Its laws were very harsh and they showed no mercy for any crime. Even if you stole the littlest thing you would still be punished greatly. Mali also had very great security from outside invaders. These two things impressed many other rulers of similar kingdoms, and made people not commit any crimes in Mali

    Mali already controlled the trans-Saharan trade routes between the salt deposits of Taghaza in the north and the gold-bearing lands of Wangara in the south. During Mansa Musa’s reign, Mali strengthened its control of the trade routes by gaining important cities such as Gao and Timbuktu, on and near the Niger River and Walata. His forces expanded westward to the Atlantic coast of Takrur and eastward beyond the Middle Niger. Trade and ideas flowed freely between Mali, North Africa, Spain, Egypt and Arabia. Muslim traders plied the desert with their caravans carrying brass work from Spain, brocades from Egypt, precious stones from India and returned with gold, salt, cola nuts and ivory. Mansa Mūsā, whose empire was one of the largest in the world at that time, is reported to have observed that it would take a year to travel from one end of his empire to the other. As he gained power, he adopted many titles such as ‘Emir of Melle’, ‘Lord of the Mines of Wangara’ and ‘Conqueror of Ghanata’. He established diplomatic ties with North Africa that facilitated unprecedented Trans-Sahara trade which further enriched his kingdom and ushered in prosperity

They educated him about Muslim culture and traveled back to Mali with him. Because of the educated people Mansa Musa brought back to his empire and the large supply of gold he had, Mali flourish and started to become a site of cultural exchange.

Mali became a site of cultural exchange because of the gold- salt trade. The gold -salt trade allowed many

During the beginning of fourteenth century, Mali, which means “where the king lives” was one of the greatest states in the world due to its discovery of trade and ways to achieve economic growth (Shallal 3). Mali was a very wealthy country in salt and gold trades across the Sahara. In addition, much of Mali’s wealth came as a result of its significant mineral beyond the east. Although the process of the gold trade was seen as the main economic source, the actual main course of the economy was agricultural production in the rural areas (Hall 62). Therefore, Mali was much more advanced than Ghana because Ghana did not have this agricultural advantage (Hall 62). Agricultural production was such a great asset because the capital of Mali, Niani, was centered in the heart of some of the most productive and fertile land (Hall 64). Mali stretched across the southern savannah; this caused rainfall to be adequate enough for there to be a surplus of food which allowed for trade (Hall 64). People in different areas of the Mali empire specialized in different crops. The main crops produced were sorghum and millet, and rice was produced in the Gambia valley and the Niger floodplain (Hall 65). Surplus food like the crops listed above were then traded from one district to another. However, other crops were traded as well. Some specific examples include the trade of sorghum and millet from the savannah to the trading town of Sahel (Hall 66). Most of this

The Malian Trade Routes and the Impact on West Africa Through the Spread of Islam Along These Routes

On January 17th 1961 the former Congolese Prime minister, Patrice Lumumba was assassinated. According to document A “Belgians supported a 30-year timetable to prepare them for independence. Distrusting the Belgians, African nationalists demanded immediate self-government.” After the announcement of the Belgians leaving some citizens wanted this to come much faster, so Belgium said they would give full control within the year. In the following year Lumumba was assassinated by an unknown killed. Due Lumumba's decisions chaos grew in the country and the hatred of the Congo grew to the Belgium and their allies. Lumumba was assassinated for multiple reasons but the largest cause was that he opposed popular opinion and made very powerful people upset with his erratic decisions and accusations.

Well the government in ancient Mali was lead by the emperor called the Mansa. The Mali Empire was divided up into providence and each were led by a governor. Present day Mali is one of the least densely population of Africa. The people who live in Mali live in small villages. People pursue traditional occupations such as farming, fishing, herding, crafts, and trade. Nomadic groups of Berbers, Tuareg, and Moors live north of the Niger River. As a herder you mostly raise cattle, sheep, and goats and are always on the move in search of

Mali became a cultural exchange because years before the empire of Mali arised the empire of ghana was already there it had already attracted people from the north to trade for gold.

It is prohibited to discriminate based on race, gender, disability, language, and social status. Even though women and the disabled are continuously discriminated against with little to no help from the government. Benin’s constitute and laws guarantee freedom of speech and of the press but those rights have been denied. The ORTB has banned any reporting on broadcasts of slander towards the government. There have been many times the Office of Radio and Television (ORTB) has blocked the media from spreading news of impeachment of the president to corruption cases getting thrown out. Although there are laws in this country you as a traveler must not get in any grey areas of the law to ensure a safe easy trip threw.

Algeria was not always been independent and has been a part of several border and authority changes. Since its independency, Algeria has struggled to define its cultural identity. Several strategies have been employed to gain ground on its identity, such as promoting a policy of Arabization, loosening up the economy, and opening their political sphere. “Today the Algerian government seeks not only to sustain the recent ebb in violence and insecurity but also to promote greater unity within the country” (Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, 2011).