User:Courtney&James1020

Mali

I chose Mali for my first history-researched report. I chose Mali because there are a lot of interesting facts on Mali. Did you know that Mali Empire has existed from the 500 to 1700 but Mali does not exist today? Mali is located near the Tiger River in West Africa. Mali means hippopotamus or were the kings resides. Mali is the world's 24th-largest country. Trade and military power were important elements that held together the government of Mali. West Africa was home to three rich and powerful civilizations, each gaining more power than the previous. The civilizations were called Ghana, Mali, and Song hay.

Mali was ruled rich and powerful kings. Two of the greatest kings were Sundiata and Mansu Musa. Sundiata founded the empire of Mali. Sundiata means hungering lion and was called the lion king of Mali. Mansa Musa ruled Mali in 1300 and double the size. Through his actions, he opened the way for Muslim merchants, scalars, and architects to come to Mali. The king ruled the entire empire and had control of the gold-salt trades.

Salt, gold, silver, ivory, honey, jewelry, tools, metal and leather goods, rare birds, livestock, horses, cloth, and even slaves were all important goods in the trans-Saharan trade system. The king of Ghana controlled trading through taxation, especially the export of gold from Ghana and the import of salt from north of the Sahara. West Africa got most of its salt from Taghaza, a settlement in the Sahara Desert where salt was mined by slaves who were either captives from other groups of people or criminals sentenced to work in the salt mines until they died or escaped. Salt was so important and valued that it was used as currency, traded for equal amounts of gold, and taxed heavily. Salt was used to keep food from spoiling as well as for taste and is also an important dietary supplement in hot, dry climates. Gold was so abundant in West Africa that ordinary people adorned themselves in it making the area famous for its wealth. To protect this wealth the location of the gold mines was kept as a well-guarded secret

The fertile soil helps the land grow and help the people of Mali farming. Mali is landlocked and has a subtropical to arid climate. It is mostly flat, rising to rolling northern plains covered by sand, with savanna around the Niger River in the south. Most of country lies in the Sahara desert, which produces a hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons and leads to recurring droughts.

Mali is among the poorest countries in the world; with 65% of its land area is desert or semi desert. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger River. About 10% of the population is nomadic and some 80%of the force is engaged in farming and fishing. Women whose wares are bought by dealers and are transported to markets where they sold by traders also practice pottery. The traditional methods used by the potters are an attraction to foreign tourists. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export.

Approximately 90% of Malians follow Sunni Islam, but not always to the exclusion of traditional religious beliefs and practices. Muslims have their own educational systems, leading in some cases to the equivalent of baccalaureate and doctoral studies. An increasingly large number of Muslims make the pilgrimage to Makkah and study in Arab countries. Christians comprise about 5% of the population. Under French colonial rule the introduction of missionaries into predominantly Islamic areas was discouraged.

Mali's armed forces number some 7,000 and are under the control of the Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans. The Gendarmerie and local police forces maintain internal security.

The nation has considerable natural resources, with gold, uranium, phosphates, kaolinite, salt and limestone being most widely exploited. While the majority of Malians still rely on farming as a means of food and livelihood, agriculture is becoming more difficult to sustain. In the last 30 years there have been two major droughts adding to the continual spread of the desert and the loss of more farmable land. Over the past 50 years the desert has overrun an area roughly the size of France and Austria combined.

Trade became an essential element in the rise and fall of these great West African empires. By about 300 A.D. camel caravan routes began to be established through West Africa and the Sahara Desert linking West African cities with Europe and the Middle East. There were four major trading routes along which experienced guides would lead caravans. A typical caravan from Arabia to the Sahel took about 40 days to complete. Along most of the route travelers had to endure the heat and sands of the desert and had to beware of thieves or attacks. Although, traders knew that once inside the territory of ancient Ghana, trade routes would be well guarded and they could travel in safety.

Salt, gold, silver, ivory, honey, jewelry, tools, metal and leather goods, rare birds, livestock, horses, cloth, and even slaves were all important goods in the trans-Saharan trade system. The king of Ghana controlled trading through taxation, especially the export of gold from Ghana and the import of salt from north of the Sahara. West Africa got most of its salt from Taghaza, a settlement in the Sahara Desert where salt was mined by slaves who were either captives from other groups of people or criminals sentenced to work in the salt mines until they died or escaped.

Salt was so important and valued that it was used as currency, traded for equal amounts of gold, and taxed heavily. Salt was used to keep food from spoiling as well as for taste and is also an important dietary supplement in hot, dry climates. Gold was so abundant in West Africa that ordinary people adorned themselves in it making the area famous for its wealth. To protect this wealth the location of the gold mines was kept as a well-guarded secret.

That is the history on the mali