The Kingdom of Mali and the Splendor of Medieval Africa

Mezquita de Djenne (Mali)

 

Miguel A. Marti / Getty Images

The history of Europe in the Middle Ages is often misunderstood. The medieval era of those nations outside of Europe is doubly ignored, first for its disreputable time frame (the "Dark Ages"), and then for its apparent lack of direct impact on modern western society.

Africa in the Middle Ages

Such is the case with Africa in the Middle Ages, a fascinating field of study that suffers from the further insult of racism. With the unavoidable exception of Egypt, the history of Africa before the incursion of Europeans has in the past been dismissed, erroneously and at times deliberately, as inconsequential to the development of modern society.

Fortunately, some scholars are working to correct this grave error. The study of medieval African societies has value, not only because we can learn from all civilizations in all time frames, but because these societies reflected and influenced a myriad of cultures that, due to the Diaspora that began in the 16th century, have spread throughout the modern world.

The Kingdom of Mali

One of these fascinating and near-forgotten societies is the medieval Kingdom of Mali, which thrived as a dominant power in West Africa from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century. Founded by the Mande-speaking Mandinka people, early Mali was governed by a council of caste-leaders who chose a "​Mansa" to rule. In time, the position of Mansa evolved into a more powerful role similar to a king or emperor.

According to tradition, Mali was suffering from a fearful drought when a visitor told the king, Mansa Barmandana, that the drought would break if he converted to Islam. This he did, and as predicted the drought did end.

Other Mandinkans followed the king's lead and converted as well, but the Mansa did not force a conversion, and many retained their Mandinkan beliefs. This religious freedom would remain throughout the centuries to come as Mali emerged as a powerful state.

The man primarily responsible for Mali's rise to prominence is Sundiata Keita. Although his life and deeds have taken on legendary proportions, Sundiata was no myth but a talented military leader. He led a successful rebellion against the oppressive rule of Sumanguru, the Susu leader who had taken control of the Ghanaian Empire.

After the Susu downfall, Sundiata laid claim to the lucrative gold and salt trade that had been so significant to Ghanaian prosperity. As Mansa, he established a cultural exchange system whereby the sons and daughters of prominent leaders would spend time in foreign courts, thus promoting understanding and a better chance of peace among nations.

Upon Sundiata's death in 1255 his son, Wali, not only continued his work but made great strides in agricultural development. Under Mansa Wali's rule, the competition was encouraged among trading centers such as Timbuktu and Jenne, strengthening their economic positions and allowing them to develop into important centers of culture.

Mansa Musa

Next to Sundiata, the most well-known and possibly the greatest ruler of Mali was Mansa Musa. During his 25-year reign, Musa doubled the territory of the Malian Empire and tripled its trade. Because he was a devout Muslim, Musa made a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, astonishing the peoples he visited with his wealth and generosity. So much gold did Musa introduce into circulation in the Middle East that it took about a dozen years for the economy to recover.

Gold was not the only form of Malian riches. Early Mandinka society venerated creative arts, and this did not change as Islamic influences helped to shape Mali. Education was also highly valued; Timbuktu was a significant center of learning with several prestigious schools. This intriguing blend of economic wealth, cultural diversity, artistic endeavors, and higher learning resulted in a splendid society to rival any contemporary European nation.

Malian society had its drawbacks, yet it is important to view these aspects in their historical setting. Enslavement was an integral part of the economy at a time when the institution had declined (yet still existed) in Europe; but the European serf, bound by law to the land, was rarely better off than someone who was enslaved.

By today's standards, justice could be harsh in Africa, but no harsher than European medieval punishments. Women had very few rights, but such was certainly true in Europe as well, and Malian women, just like European women, were at times able to participate in business (a fact that disturbed and surprised Muslim chroniclers). War was not unknown on either continent, just as today.

After the death of Mansa Musa, the Kingdom of Mali went into a slow decline. For another century its civilization held sway in West Africa until Songhay established itself as a dominant force in the 1400s. Traces of medieval Mali's greatness still remain, but those traces are fast disappearing as the unscrupulous plunder the archaeological remains of the region's wealth.

Mali is just one of many African societies whose past deserves a closer look. We hope to see more scholars explore this long-ignored field of study, and more of us open our eyes to the splendor of Medieval Africa.

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Snell, Melissa. "The Kingdom of Mali and the Splendor of Medieval Africa." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/splendor-in-medieval-africa-1788244. Snell, Melissa. (2023, April 5). The Kingdom of Mali and the Splendor of Medieval Africa. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/splendor-in-medieval-africa-1788244 Snell, Melissa. "The Kingdom of Mali and the Splendor of Medieval Africa." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/splendor-in-medieval-africa-1788244 (accessed March 28, 2024).