Why mali fell

What caused the fall of the Mali Empire quizlet? What happened to Timbuktu? Why was Mali rich? Who is the richest kid on YouTube? What does Donald Bren own? Who is the richest real estate developer? Who are the richest investors? Previous Article What is Mali known for? Next Article How did the Mali Empire come to an end? The Battle of Tondibi, which resulted in the defeat of the Songhay army, took place on 13 March The Songhay Empire would not be the first military power to set too much store by its cavalry.

Founded in out of the ruins of the Malian Empire, Songhay was the largest of the indigenous empires in Africa. At its zenith, it covered around , square miles, stretching east-west for 1, miles along the River Niger with the Sahara to the north and the Sudan savannah to the south. Although it incorporated the great centre of Islamic learning and culture at Timbuktu, its capital was sited further east at Gao. Internally, its biggest problem was succession.

While some emperors, such as Askia Toure and Askia Dawud , were able to secure their thrones and rule successfully, the succeeding periods were characterised by fratricidal rivalries and rifts. Modern day Kirina, this town used to be one of the main strongholds of the Mali Empire. The pivotal battle of Kirina was fought here in C. From the 13th to 17th century, West Africa was home to the great Mali Empire. Protected by a well-trained, imperial army and benefiting from being in the middle of trade routes, Mali expanded its territory, influence , and culture over the course of four centuries.

Mali included the city of Timbuktu, which became known as an important center of knowledge. After seizing the former capital of the Ghana Empire in , Sundiata and his men consolidated control while continuing to expand the Mali Empire.

Often times, the officers of his court wielded great power, which was crucial to keeping the empire strong during periods of poor leadership. Mali had kings, called Mansa. Territorial expansion coincided with cultural advancements, particularly in architecture, and the empire flourished. This allowed the kingdom to enjoy the benefits of being at the center of trade in Africa. In , Musa undertook a pilgrimage to Mecca during which he spent and gave away all of his gold.

As a result, stories of the wealth of the Mali king spread far and wide. Spanish cartographer Abraham Cresques even featured Musa in the Catalan Atlas, a popular resource for European explorers. Cresques included an image of Musa wearing a gold crown, holding more gold in his hand. Today, some believe he could have been the richest man in history. Other trade centers developed, hurting the commercial wealth that had once so freely surrounded Mali.

Poor leadership set the kingdom on a path of civil wars. The surrounding Songhay Empire would conquer most of the Mali kingdom by the late 15th century, leaving little remaining of the once proud Mali Empire.

By the 17th century, the Moroccan Empire occupied the area.