The Mali Empire

One of the most prominent effects of the cross cultural interaction was the Afro Eurasian Trade Network which helped increase revenue. The trade routes that were part of this network were the Mediterranean Sea Maritime Trade Route, Indian Ocean Maritime Trade Route, Eurasian Silk Road and the Trans-Saharan Trade Routes. The increase in trade resulted in the emergence of major cities such as Timbuktu, Jenne, Mogadishu, Mombasa and other Swahili city states. Another reason for the flourish of trade was the invention of new technologies such as caravans for traveling and the trading of luxury goods such as silk, cotton and porcelain. The dawn of new kingdoms such as Mali, Songhay and Sudan contributed to this effect as well. The spread of Islam resulted in

Muslims controlled the trade routes in Mali which made it easier for Battuta in order to maneuver around the empire because of the fact that he is also a Muslim and traveled throughout the Islamic world. Some Malians would use salt as a medium of exchange even though gold and silver were used mostly everywhere else. Gold, copper, salt, kola nuts, and spices were immensely crucial to the Malian economy, its gold is very important around the world. Battuta explains on the occasion of former king of Mali Mansa Musa went to Cairo two years prior before him and the king “flooded Cairo with his kindness” which would upset their gold market for many years. Social inequality was an issue in Mali, prisoners that were capture were made into slaves, especially women, they were gathers and served as concubines for example, Battuta illustrates how women servants and slaves girls are practically naked in front of everyone including Mansa Suleyman daughters. Men either hunt or maintain the structure of the house. Battuta also expressed his dislike of the way Malian’s were not ritually slaughtering their animals. However he praises how clean the natives are in the mosque on Fridays and memorizing the Quran by

Therefore, both Mali and Aztec Empires benefited from trade but they received different responses from it. Mali was introduced to Islam from trade because of trading to other societies. Aztecs did not experience any change in culture because they traded locally. Women roles were different in both societies, women of Mali enjoyed more rights in comparison to the women of Aztec society whom received little to no rights. The social structure of Mali was generally a more

Foreign trade is one of the most important aspects of Asian and European Empires. Without trade, these empires would not have flourished in the manner that they did. Many different factors played a role in developing trade in their cultures. As various empires ruled from 2000 BC to 1911 in Asia and Europe, trade has had a major influence in the development of those cultures as seen today. The nation that has the most success in trading becomes the strongest nation and will last the longest.

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

Trade was an important achievement to Africa, especially Aksum. Aksum, one of Africa’s major trading cities, is a justification for Africa’s achievements. Its site is near important trade routes such as the Red Sea, the Nile River, and the Gulf of Aden made it a key international trading center (Doc 1). Another important city of trade was Kilwa. Kilwa controlled the trade overseas between Africa because of location near the coast. (Doc 8)

The Kingdom Ghana in western Africa flourished. Ghana gained control of the salt-and-gold trade (Doc. 2). This was important because Gold was used as a currency,

The early civilizations of Africa were different in many of their cultural traits. One common trait they did have in common was the importance of trade in their society. Although trade was good for the African civilizations, there was consequences that followed trading. I will be using documents B, F, and D to support how early African civilizations had consequences from trading. In document B it states that, “The door of the pavilion is guarded by dogs on an excellent breed… who wear collars of gold and silver,” this quote helps support the idea that Ghana had lots of gold and wealth.

In early Africa, the kingdom of Ghana was prosperous due to the trade of salt and gold. Ghana’s location benefited it in many ways. First Ghana’s location allowed them to be the center of the Gold/Salt trade. Since salt was so valuable at the time, the people of Ghana were able to sell salt for gold throughout Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Middle East. Ghana also made a lot of revenue from taxes on the Gold/Salt trade route. Since they were the center

The second Empire that was more extensive was Mali in West Africa. They were dominating in the 13th and 14th century. This empire was one of the largest trading posts in the world, which had roots in the gold of West Africa. Mali Empire flourished because of the trade above all else. This empire contained three immense gold mines within its borders unlike the Ghana Empire, which was only a transit point for gold. The taxed every single once of gold, cotton and salt that entered its borders. Mali was the source of almost half the old world’s gold exported from mines in Bambuk, Boure and Galam. The gold nuggets were the exclusive property of the mansa, and were illegal to trade within his borders. All gold was immediately handed over to the imperial treasury in return for an equal value of gold dust. The gold dust had been weighted and bagged for use at least since the reign of the Ghana Empire. The next great unit of exchange in this empire was salt. Salt was as valuable, if

    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

At the intersection he could have traded goods that his kingdom could not obtain, which is good for his kingdom’s economy. Using the gold that he had, if he did not have any goods left, he could have given gold in return. Likewise, Mansa Musa followed existing trade routes, so he knew that the trade route existed and chose to take it. Past kings could have came back with special goods and made Mali grow, which is something that he would have wanted to gain power. Correspondingly, in Document E, Al-Umari states, “…This has been the state of affairs for about twelve years until this day by reason of the large amount of gold which they brought into Egypt and spent there.”

How did all of the scholars, government bureaucrats, merchants, and architects and Mansa Musa’s wealth contribute to Mali becoming a site of cultural exchange and what were the effects of them going to Mali? Because of the massive amount of gold that Mansa Musa had, he was able to create people to construct mosques and universities. “Mansas also used their wealth to build mosques and madrassas in the cities. One of the major trade cities of Mali was Timbuktu” (Ucdavis). As a result of Mansa Musa large amount of money, he used a large portion of it to build mosques, religious centers, and universities, learning centers. These buildings are a result of Mansa Musa’s wealth. Mosques, or religious center were a place where religion was spread and people were free worship whichever god(s) they wanted.

They had worked together for a while, each advancing their trading areas, and gaining more supplies. Mali would import were things like gold, and in return they would trade and get things they weren't able to get themselves. Other than that, they would trade things with gold. Gold was Africa's currency and was a great deal, for wealth and

In the African continent, they developed an economic relationship with the European nation. There was clear signs that European needed connections. Prior to their relationship, african rulers had established trade links with the Mediterranean world, Western Asia, and Indian Ocean region. The expansion provided Europeans goods that included, cloth, iron, copper, jewelry, beads, and more. In exchange, Europeans return with textiles, carving, spices. The main trade however was