mansa musa descendants

Mansa Ms left a realm notable for its extent and richeshe built the Great Mosque at Timbuktubut he is best remembered in the Middle East and Europe for the splendour of his pilgrimage to Mecca (1324). They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. [72], According to Niane's version of the epic, during the rise of Kaniaga, Sundiata of the Keita clan was born in the early 13th century. "[65], It is recorded that Mansa Musa traveled through the cities of Timbuktu and Gao on his way to Mecca, and made them a part of his empire when he returned around 1325. Your email address will not be published. Niane, D. T.: "Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali". In addition, the moral and religious principles he had taught his subjects endured after his death. It was this pilgrimage that awakened the world to the stupendous wealth of Mali. [83] This term was used interchangeably with dinar, though it is unclear if coined currency was used in the empire. [66], Timbuktu soon became the center of trade, culture, and Islam; markets brought in merchants from Hausaland, Egypt, and other African kingdoms, a university was founded in the city (as well as in the Malian cities of Djenn and Sgou), and Islam was spread through the markets and university, making Timbuktu a new area for Islamic scholarship. The army of the Mali Empire used of a wide variety of weapons depending largely on where the troops originated. The mansa could also replace a farba if he got out of control, as in the case of Diafunu. [122] They targeted Moroccan pashas still in Timbuktu and the mansas of Manden. The new Songhai Empire conquered Mema,[93] one of Mali's oldest possessions, in 1465. [50] Such impermanent capitals are a historically widespread phenomenon, having occurred in other parts of Africa such as Ethiopia, as well as outside Africa, such as in the Holy Roman Empire.[51]. During this period only the Mongol Empire was larger. They tell of his hardships as a boy before he came to the throne. [19], Much of what is known about Musa comes from Arabic sources written after his hajj, especially the writings of Al-Umari and Ibn Khaldun. Omissions? It is unknown from whom he descended; however, another emperor, Mansa Maghan Keita III, is sometimes cited as Mansa Mahmud Keita I. [128] Nevertheless, the mansa managed to keep tax money and nominal control over the area without agitating his subjects into revolt. [12][h] Ibn Battuta, who visited Mali during the reign of Musa's brother Sulayman, said that Musa's grandfather was named Sariq Jata. Mansa Musa (died 1337), king of the Mali empire in West Africa, is known mostly for his fabulous pilgrimage to Mecca and for his promotion of unity and prosperity within Mali. [122] Their forces marched as far north as Kangaba, where the mansa was obliged to make a peace with them, promising not to attack downstream of Mali. World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. (2020, October 17). [99] The gold Musa brought on his pilgrimage probably represented years of accumulated tribute that Musa would have spent much of his early reign gathering. Wagadou and Mema became junior partners in the realm and part of the imperial nucleus. The Wolof populations of the area united into their own state known as the Jolof Empire in the 1350s. His reign is associated with numerous construction projects, including part of Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu. After the victory, King Soumaoro disappeared, and the Mandinka stormed the last of the Sosso cities. [104] He would only reign a year before a descendant of Mansa Gao Keita removed him.[70]. Mansa Musa, one of the wealthiest people who ever lived - Jessica Smith TED-Ed 7.1M views 7 years ago The history of Nigeria explained in 6 minutes (3,000 Years of Nigerian history) Epimetheus. [citation needed] The northern region on the other hand had no shortage of salt. In the interregnum following Sunjata's death, the jomba or court slaves may have held power. His skillful administration left his empire well-off at the time of his death, but eventually, the empire fell apart. [42] Another source of income for Mali during Musa's reign was taxation of the copper trade. Barring any other difficulties, the dyamani-tigui would run the province by himself collecting taxes and procuring armies from the tribes under his command. [71] However, Ibn Khaldun also reports that Musa sent an envoy to congratulate Abu al-Hasan Ali for his conquest of Tlemcen, which took place in May 1337, but by the time Abu al-Hasan sent an envoy in response, Musa had died and Suleyman was on the throne, suggesting Musa died in 1337. Mansa Musa returned from Mecca with several Islamic scholars, including direct descendants of the prophet Muhammad and an Andalusian poet and architect by the name of Abu Es Haq es Saheli, who is . Mansa Musa eventually gained the throne owing to a strange sequence of events that turned in his favor. [93] Musa may have brought as much as 18 tons of gold on his hajj,[94] equal in value to over US$957million in 2022. Via one of the royal ladies of his court, Musa transformed Sankore from an informal madrasah into an Islamic university. [33] Some modern historians have cast doubt on Musa's version of events, suggesting he may have deposed his predecessor and devised the story about the voyage to explain how he took power. The empire taxed every ounce of gold, copper and salt that entered its borders. [71] The tiny kingdom of Niani was one of several in the Kri area of Manden. The Mali Empire began in and was centered around the Manding region in what is now southern Mali and northeastern Guinea. In Mali he promoted trans-Saharan trade that further increased the empires wealth. These oral stories . His name was Mansa Musa, and he was a devout Muslim. [102] It seems quite possible that an exodus of the inhabitants took place at this juncture and the importance of the city was not revived until the rise of the Songhai empire. The Sahelian and Saharan towns of the Mali Empire were organised as both staging posts in the long-distance caravan trade and trading centres for the various West African products. At the time of Musa's ascension to the throne, Mali in large part consisted of the territory of the former Ghana Empire, which Mali had conquered. He also brought architects from the Middle East and across Africa to design new buildings for his cities. He describes it as being north of Mali but under its domination implying some sort of vassalage for the Antasar, Yantar'ras, Medussa and Lemtuna Berber tribes. [26][17] Ibn Khaldun said that he "was an upright man and a great king, and tales of his justice are still told."[101]. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. The conquest of Sosso in c. 1235 gave the Mali Empire access to the trans-Saharan trade routes. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. By the beginning of the 14th century, Mali was the source of almost half the Old World's gold exported from mines in Bambuk, Boure and Galam. In his attempt to justify the importance of the Keita and their civilisation in early Arabic literatures, Adelabu, the head of Awqaf Africa in London, coined the Arabic derivatives K(a)-W(e)-Y(a) of the word Keita which in (in what he called) Arabicised Mandingo language Allah(u) Ka(w)eia meaning "Allah Creates All" as a favourable motto of reflection for Bilal Ibn Rabah, one of the most trusted and loyal Sahabah (companions) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, whom he described (quoting William Muir's book The Life of Muhammad) as 'a tall, dark, and with African feature and bushy hair'[64] pious man who overcame slavery, racism and socio-political obstacles in Arabia to achieve a lofty status in this world and in the Hereafter.[65]. This style is characterised by the use of mudbricks and an adobe plaster, with large wooden-log support beams that jut out from the wall face for large buildings such as mosques or palaces. To Westerners, he seems to have been the greatest of Mali rulers, as visible in games like Civilization. From 1389 onwards Mali gained a host of mansas of obscure origins. If Dakajalan was, in fact, situated near Kangaba, this may also have contributed to their conflation, beginning with Delafosse's speculation that the latter may have begun as a suburb of the former. Ag-Amalwal. The University of Sankore in Timbuktu was restaffed under Musa's reign with jurists, astronomers, and mathematicians. After the loyalty or at least the capitulation of an area was assured, it was allowed to select its own dyamani-tigui. Intro music: "Lord of the Land" by Kevin MacLeod and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution license 4.0. His reign came with huge physical, economic and intellectual development in the Mali Empire. Ms Is pilgrimage caravan to Mecca in 1324 comprised some 60,000 people and an immeasurable amount of gold. harvnb error: no target: CITEREFKi-ZerboNiane (, sfn error: no target: CITEREFLevztionHopkins2000 (. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. The empire he founded became one of the richest in the world, and his descendants included one of the richest individuals to ever live, Mansa Musa. During his reign, the Mossi emperor Bonga of Yatenga raided into Mali and plundered Macina. Musa was a Muslim, and his pilgrimage to Mecca, also known as hajj, made him well known across Northern Africa and the Middle East. At its peak, Mali was the largest empire in West Africa, widely . [27] His list does not necessarily accurately reflect the actual organization of the Mali Empire,[28] and the identification of the listed provinces is controversial. The farba could also take power away from the native administration if required and raise an army in the area for defence or putting down rebellions.[130]. Last modified October 17, 2020. [122] This campaign gutted Manden and destroyed any hope of the three mansas cooperating to free their land. Mansa Musa was the great-great-grandson of Sunjata, who was the founder of the empire of Mali. [69] The Kangaba province, free of Sonink influence, splintered into twelve kingdoms with their own maghan (meaning prince) or faama. [15] He is also called Hidji Mansa Musa in oral tradition in reference to his hajj. . As founded by Mari Djata, it was composed of the "three freely allied states" of Mali, Mema and Wagadou plus the Twelve Doors of Mali.[60]. Stride, G. T., & C. Ifeka: "Peoples and Empires of West Africa: West Africa in History 10001800". This is the least known period in Mali's imperial history. [86] Qu was succeeded by his son Muhammad, who launched two voyages to explore the Atlantic Ocean. They camped for three days by the Pyramids of Giza, before crossing the Nile into Cairo on 19 July. [22] Oral tradition, as performed by the jeliw (sg. He ruled oppressively and nearly bankrupted Mali with his lavish spending. By the time of his death in 1337, Mali had control over Taghazza, a salt-producing area in the north, which further strengthened its treasury. His riches came from the mining of significant gold and salt deposits in the Mali Empire, along with the slave and ivory trade.[6][7]. Extensive archaeological digs have shown that the area was an important trade and manufacturing center in the 15th century, but no firm evidence of royal residence has come to light. [23] Numbered individuals reigned as mansa; the numbers indicate the order in which they reigned. It contained three immense gold mines within its borders unlike the Ghana Empire, which was only a transit point for gold. Maghan Sundiata was declared "faama of faamas" and received the title "mansa", which translates as "king". Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Mansa Ms, 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. He had so much gold that during his hajj to Mecca, the Mansa passed out gold to all the poor along the way. By the 6th century AD, the lucrative trans-Saharan trade in gold, salt and slaves had begun, facilitating the rise of West Africa's great empires. In 1542, the Songhai invaded the capital city but were unsuccessful in conquering the empire. [11][b] In Mand tradition, it was common for one's name to be prefixed by their mother's name, so the name Kanku Musa means "Musa, son of Kanku", although it is unclear if the genealogy implied is literal. This process was essential to keep non-Manding subjects loyal to the Manding elites that ruled them. [25] The empire also reached its highest population during the Laye period ruling over 400 cities,[26] towns and villages of various religions and elasticities. Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim. Mali's Timbuktu was known for its schools and libraries. Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca happened between 1324 and 1325. [88], Mansa Musa is renowned for his wealth and generosity. [124] Following this disastrous set of events, Mansa Mama Maghan abandoned the capital of Niani. World History Publishing is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. Still, by the time of Mansa Musa Keita II's death in 1387, Mali was financially solvent and in control of all of its previous conquests short of Gao and Dyolof. [116] Songhai authority over Bendugu and Kala declined by 1571, and Mali may have been able to reassert some authority over them. [67] News of the Malian empire's city of wealth even traveled across the Mediterranean to southern Europe, where traders from Venice, Granada, and Genoa soon added Timbuktu to their maps to trade manufactured goods for gold.[68]. [56], In the 1960s, archaeological work at Niani village, reputed to be the capital of the Mali Empire, by Polish and Guinean archaeologists revealed the remains of a substantial town dating back as far as the 6th century. On the return from Takedda to Morocco, his caravan transported 600 female servants, suggesting that indentured servitude was a substantial part of the commercial activity of the empire.[134]. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Ms I is widely considered the wealthiest man in history. Imperial Malian architecture was characterised by Sudano-Sahelian architecture with a Malian substyle, which is exemplified by the Great Mosque of Djenne. Imperial Mali's horsemen also used iron helmet and mail armour for defence[146] as well as shields similar to those of the infantry. [99] Mosques were built in Gao and Timbuktu along with impressive palaces also built in Timbuktu. The entire nation was mobilised, with each clan obligated to provide a quota of fighting-age men. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. All gold was immediately handed over to the imperial treasury in return for an equal value of gold dust. [45] Those animals included 80 camels which each carried 23136kg (50300lb) of gold dust. World History Encyclopedia, 17 Oct 2020. Equipped with two quivers and a knife fastened to the back of their arm, Mandinka bowmen used barbed, iron-tipped arrows that were usually poisoned. [9] Upon Leo Africanus's visit at the beginning of the 16th century, his descriptions of the territorial domains of Mali showed that it was still a kingdom of considerable size. Ms Is hajj left a lasting impression of Malis splendour on both the Islamic and European worlds. [76] The latter possibility is corroborated by Ibn Khaldun calling Suleyman Musa's son in that passage, suggesting he may have confused Musa's brother Suleyman with Musa's son Maghan. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. [j][52][53] While in Cairo, Musa met with the Mamluk sultan al-Nasir Muhammad, whose reign had already seen one mansa, Sakura, make the hajj. He ruled between 707-732/737 according to the Islamic calendar (AH), which translates to 1307-1332/1337 CE. It is implausible that Abu Bakr was Musa's father, due to the amount of time between Sunjata's reign and Musa's. Eventually, due to Muhammad's failure to return, Musa was recognized as mansa.[89]. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Mansa Ms, either the grandson or the grandnephew of Sundiata, the founder of his dynasty, came to the throne in 1307. Emperors and Empresses from Around the (Non-Roman) World Quiz, Armand-Jean du Plessis, cardinal et duc de Richelieu, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Musa-I-of-Mali, World History Encyclopedia - Mansa Musa I, Musa - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). He became emperor in 1307. Scholars who were mainly interested in history, Qurnic theology, and law were to make the mosque of Sankore in Timbuktu a teaching centre and to lay the foundations of the University of Sankore. What did Ms I do when he returned to Mali? 1312 is the most widely accepted by modern historians. Mansa Mari Djata, later named Sundiata Keita, saw the conquest of several key locals in the Mali Empire. jeli), also known as griots, includes relatively little information about Musa compared to some other parts of the history of Mali. [133], There was no standard currency throughout the realm, but several forms were prominent by region. He was the first African ruler to be widely known throughout Europe and the Middle East. Umari also describes the empire as being south of Marrakesh and almost entirely inhabited except for few places. [48], Parallel to this debate, many scholars have argued that the Mali Empire may not have had a permanent "capital" in the sense that the word is used today, and historically was used in the Mediterranean world. He is believed to be one of the richest individuals to have walked on this planet. [93] Emperor Bonga did not appear to hold the area, and it stayed within the Mali Empire after Maghan Keita III's death in 1400. However, many believe Mansa Musa's wealth outdoes that of all modern billionaires. Please check the original source(s) for copyright information. During this period, there was an advanced level of urban living in the major centers of Mali. However, territories that were crucial to trade or subject to revolt would receive a farba. [93] Dyamani-tiguis had to be approved by the mansa and were subject to his oversight. The lands of Bambougou, Jalo (Fouta Djallon), and Kaabu were added into Mali by Fakoli Koroma (Nkrumah in Ghana, Kurumah in the Gambia, Colley in Casamance, Senegal),[70] Fran Kamara (Camara) and Tiramakhan Traore (Tarawelley in the Gambia),[77] respectively Among the many different ethnic groups surrounding Manden were Pulaar speaking groups in Macina, Tekrur and Fouta Djallon. At its peak, Mali was the largest empire in West Africa, widely influencing the culture of the region through the spread of its language, laws and customs. [147][148], The Sudano-Sahelian influence was particularly widely incorporated during the rule of Mansa Musa I, who constructed many architectural projects, including the Great Mosque of Gao and Royal Palace in Timbuktu, which was built with the assistance of Ishaak al-Tuedjin, an architect brought by Musa from his pilgrimage to Mecca. The family tree of Mansa Musa. [100], Arabic writers, such as Ibn Battuta and Abdallah ibn Asad al-Yafii, praised Musa's generosity, virtue, and intelligence. Mansa Musa's reign itself was 25 years long. If the mansa didn't believe the dyamani-tigui was capable or trustworthy, a farba might be installed to oversee the province or administer it outright. In 1645, the Bamana attacked Manden, seizing both banks of the Niger right up to Niani. [93], Following Musa Keita III's death, his brother Gbr Keita became emperor in the mid-15th century. The emperor himself rode on horseback and was directly preceded by 500 enslaved persons, each carrying a gold-adorned staff. World History Encyclopedia. [41] Given the grandeur of his subsequent hajj, it is likely that Musa spent much of his early reign preparing for it. Mansa Musa ruled the Malian empire from 1312-1337 CE. Kangaba, the de facto capital of Manden since the time of the last emperor, became the capital of the northern sphere. You cannot download interactives. [98] Musa's hajj, and especially his gold, caught the attention of both the Islamic and Christian worlds. [45] He would have spent much time fostering the growth of the religion within his empire. His riches came from mining significant salt and gold deposits in the Mali kingdom. His reign saw the first in a string of many great losses to Mali. Accounts of how many people and how much gold he spent vary. Al-Qalqashandi quotes al-'Umari as spelling it. He's especially famous for his hajj to Mecca, during which he sponsored numerous mosques and madrases, and supposedly spent so much gold along the way that the metal was severely devalued, which for many people was not a very good thing. After unsuccessful attempts by Mansa Mama Maghan to conquer Bamana, the Bamana in 1670 sacked and burned the capital, and the Mali Empire rapidly disintegrated and ceased to exist, being replaced by independent chiefdoms. Timbuktu was a place of trade, entertainment, and education. [61], According to the Tarikh al-Sudan, the cities of Gao and Timbuktu submitted to Musa's rule as he traveled through on his return to Mali. The "Qur'an" had a great importance to Mansa Musa as it states "God loves the charitable" (Document D). Sundiata Keita is the first ruler for which there is accurate written information (through Ibn Khaldun). [18], In the Songhai language, rulers of Mali such as Musa were known as the Mali-koi, koi being a title that conveyed authority over a region: in other words, the "ruler of Mali". Thank you for your help! From the Mamma Haidara Commemorative Library, Timbuktu. Mansa Mahmud Keita II came to the throne in 1481 during Mali's downward spiral. Mansa Musa was a smart, powerful, competent Islamic autocrat who ruled over and expanded the Malian empire. His information about the empire came from visiting Malians taking the hajj, or pilgrim's voyage to Mecca. An army was required to guard the borders to protect its flourishing trade. A city called Dieriba or Dioliba is sometimes mentioned as the capital or main urban center of the province of Mande in the years before Sundiata, that was later abandoned. Mande bards in the region speak of the Dakajalan site, containing Sundiata's grave, as sacrosanct. Rather, authority would rest with the mansa and his court, wherever he went. [142][143] Numerous sources attest that the inland waterways of West Africa saw extensive use of war canoes and vessels used for war transport where permitted by the environment. Geography, Human Geography, Social Studies, Ancient Civilizations, World History. [90][91] His reign is considered the golden age of Mali. The House of Saud is ruled by the descendants of King Abdulaziz, who founded and unified Saudi Arabia in 1932. Several of the names are spelled in a variety of ways in different manuscripts. [110] Meanwhile, Songhai seized the salt mines of Taghazza in 1493. Also, Sundiata divided the lands amongst the people assuring everyone had a place in the empire and fixed exchange rates for common products[127]. The other major source of information comes from Mandinka oral tradition, as recorded by storytellers known as griots.[5]. [123] Segou, defended by Bitn Coulibaly, successfully defended itself and Mama Maghan was forced to withdraw. Timbuktu became a major Islamic university center during the 14th century due to Mansa Musas developments. [81] He went on the hajj during the reign of Mamluk sultan Baibars (12601277). Mansa Musa (Musa I of Mali) was the ruler of the kingdom of Mali from 1312 C.E. Musa was a very successful military leader. [145] Another common weapon of Mandekalu warriors was the poison javelin used in skirmishes. "[42], Early European writers such as Maurice Delafosse believed that Niani, a city on what is now the border between Guinea and Mali, was the capital for most of the empire's history, and this notion has taken hold in the popular imagination. Around 1610, Mahmud Keita IV died. His equipment furnishings were carried by 12.000 private slave women (Wasaif) wearing gown and brocade (dibaj) and Yemeni silk []. . [105][106] Three years later, Oualata also fell into their hands. [140], The Mali Empire maintained a semi-professional, full-time army in order to defend its borders. Al-Umari said that before Musa's arrival, a mithqal of gold was worth 25 silver dirhams, but that it dropped to less than 22 dirhams afterward and did not go above that number for at least twelve years. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. The latter told Ibn Khaldun about devastating struggle over Gao between Mali imperial forces against Berber Tuareg forces from Takedda. [70] Two noble brothers from Niani, of unknown lineage, went to Dioma with an army and drove out the Fula Wassoulounk. [76] After unifying Manden, he added the Wangara goldfields, making them the southern border. It had a well-organised army with an elite corps of horsemen and many foot soldiers in each battalion. [86], The name "Musa" has become virtually synonymous with pilgrimage in Mand tradition, such that other figures who are remembered as going on a pilgrimage, such as Fakoli, are also called Musa. [72] In contrast, al-Umari, writing twelve years after Musa's hajj, in approximately 1337,[73] claimed that Musa returned to Mali intending to abdicate and return to live in Mecca but died before he could do so,[74] suggesting he died even earlier than 1332. This can be interpreted as either "Musa son of Abu Bakr" or "Musa descendant of Abu Bakr." They are descendants of. In the 17th year of his reign (1324), he set out on his famous pilgrimage to Mecca. Mali borrowed the practice to stem inflation of the substance, since it was so prominent in the region. When Musa departed Mali for the hajj, he left his son Muhammad to rule in his absence. Musa I ( Arabic: , romanized : Mans Ms, N'Ko: ; r. c. 1312 - c. 1337 [a]) was the ninth [4] mansa of the Mali Empire, which reached its territorial peak during his reign. Consequently, the name of Mali and Timbuktu appeared on 14th century world maps. [28] The Tarikh al-fattash claims that Musa accidentally killed Kanku at some point prior to his hajj. [40] In fact, there is a conspicuous absence of archaeological samples of any kind from Niani dated to the late 13th through early 15th centuries, suggesting that Niani may have been uninhabited during the heyday of the Mali Empire. [67] The Manden city-state of Ka-ba (present-day Kangaba) served as the capital and name of this province. In approximately 1140 the Sosso kingdom of Kaniaga, a former vassal of Wagadou, began conquering the lands of its old rulers. [117], The swan song of the Mali Empire came in 1599, under the reign of Mansa Mahmud IV. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. The Mansa led the second expedition himself, and appointed Musa as his deputy to rule the empire until he returned. Well after his death, Mansa Musa remained engrained in the imagination of the world as a symbol of fabulous wealth. During his reign, Mali was one of the richest kingdoms of Africa, and Mansa Musa was among the richest individuals in the world. The Keitas retreated to the town of Kangaba, where they became provincial chiefs. [40], Various sources cite several other cities as capitals of the Mali Empire, some in competition with the Niani hypothesis and others addressing different time periods. This region straddles the border between what is now southern Mali and northeastern Guinea. [56] Musa and his entourage lingered in Mecca after the last day of the hajj. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content.

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