World History 173: The Foundation of Empires

**Excellent overview** Everyone in your group will benefit from reading this.

Includes links to a chronology & an awesome map

Sundiata Keita was the first ruler of the Mali Empire in the 13th century C.E. He laid the foundation for a powerful and wealthy African empire and proclaimed the first charter of human rights, the Manden Charter.

This description of the visit to Cairo in 1324 by the King of Mali, Mansa Musa, was written by Al-Umari, who visited Cairo several years after the Mansa Musa’s visit.

Describes Sundiata Keita's relations with the Malinke and the Soninke (see section on the Gold Trade and the Mali Empire)

Mali Empire is discussed from 10:55-28:00

Includes links to manuscripts

The Mali Empire was an Islamic society, but there was a lot of cultural variation within the empire as one traveled away from the cities. Ibn Battuta described practices he found alarming, such as men and women socializing.

Manuscripts & descriptions of their content

Mansa Musa's successor and the last powerful ruler of the Mali Empire.

Includes images.

Djenné masons speak of the history of city, its founding myth, its architecture and the role of the masons in maintaining this architectural legacy. The masons also speak about the importance for the community of the annual ceremony of re-plastering the Great Mosque.