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Mali
By Alex Natale, Jaimie Smith
and Kyle Grant
Introduction
 Many factors contributed to the rise
of Ancient Mali. These factors
included its geographic location, the
way it was governed, religion and
economy.
Geography
 Mali was located in West
Africa
 Mali’s capital, Niani was
on the bountiful
agricultural floodplains of
upper Niger
 At its largest, Mali was
2,000 kilometers wide, and
depended on the Niger
River for trading
Law and Government
 Mali was under the
leadership of Sundiata of
the Keita clan
 Sundiata Keita came to
power after he defeated the
king of the Sosso
 Mansa Musa commissioned
design on important
buildings such as the
mosques at Gao and Jenne
Religion
 The court of Ancient Mali
converted to Islam
 Muslim scribes played an
important role in
government and
administration
 Mansa Musa embarked on a
hajj, and because of this
Mali formed diplomatic and
trading routes with Muslim
states such as Egypt and
Morroco.
A mosque in Ancient
Mali.
Economy
 Trade was an
essential element
in the rise and fall
of Mali
 Gold made up a
significant portion
of the empire’s
wealth
 Gold and Salt were
the two most
important goods
traded
Achievements
 Commissioned the design
and construction of many
important buildings, such as
mosques and universities
 Responsible for the
construction of the Cupola,
a small domelike structure
on top of a building
 Timbuktu became a place of
great learning
Conclusion
 Ancient Mali’s rise was a result of many factors.
Since it was close to the Niger River, it was able to
use it as a trade route. Mansa Musa’s important
hajj introduced Mali to the world as a successful
kingdom. Mali also was influenced by Muslims,
and based its belief system off the Quran. Trade
significantly impacted the rise and fall of Mali.
Mali’s city, Timbuktu became a place of great
learning, and it drew in some of the best Muslim
scholars in the world. All of these factors
contributed to the rise of Ancient Mali.