Check out the following Youtube links relating to the great Mali Empire!
So where is the fabled city of Timbuktu?
Zoom in and out on this map. Look at the geographical locations around Timbuktu. See if you can spot the Niger River and the Sahara desert. This is a modern map depicting modern states (countries). The Mali Empire would have looked much different. See the illustration below to get an idea of what the ancient Mali Empire would have looked like. Play and have fun!
Supply and demand in timbuktu
Timbuktu had access to large SUPPLIES of the following:
- gold
- ivory
- ostrich feathers
- slaves
The Mali Empire had a great DEMAND for:
- salt
- silk
- cloth
- books
- horses
Can you think of some reasons why these particular products would have been in supply and demand? Think of Timbuktu's geographical location specifically.
- gold
- ivory
- ostrich feathers
- slaves
The Mali Empire had a great DEMAND for:
- salt
- silk
- cloth
- books
- horses
Can you think of some reasons why these particular products would have been in supply and demand? Think of Timbuktu's geographical location specifically.
Before the advent of cars, airplanes and trains, people traveled through the desert in a caravan of camels. Camels are designed to survive the dry and arid conditions of the desert. They are also strong and can carry heavy loads of things which people could trade.
Mansa musa...
Mansa Musa was probably the best known historical figure dating from the Great Mali Empire. Mansa means "King of Kings". His father was Sundiata Keita. Check out the following website which looks at Mansa Musa in terms the richest person who has ever lived:
http://www.celebritynetworth.com/articles/entertainment-articles/deeper-look-life-mansa-musa-richest-human-ever-lived/
http://www.celebritynetworth.com/articles/entertainment-articles/deeper-look-life-mansa-musa-richest-human-ever-lived/
Mansa Musa is most famous for his extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca. Why did he go to Mecca? Watch the video on Islam by John Green (Yes, he is the dude that wrote The Fault in Our Stars). On his journey back from Mecca, Mansa Musa convinced many architects, scholars and craftsmen to return with him to Timbuktu. These scholars, artist and architects were responsible for the creation of some of Timbuktu's most spectatcular mosques, universities and public buildings (watch the first two videos). Study the map below - Can you find Timbuktu? Can you find Cairo? What about Mecca? You would need to know the location of these places on a map for the June/ July exams!
You would need to be able to identify the following locations and geographical features on a map for future tests and exams:
- The Niger River
- The Niger Delta
- The Sahara desert
- The city of Timbuktu
- The modern city Bamako
- The city of Cairo
- The city of Mecca
- Medina and Jerusalem (why do you think you should know these specific places?)
- The Arabian Peninsula
Study the visual sources below and think of how these link with the sub-sections studied in class:
- The Niger River
- The Niger Delta
- The Sahara desert
- The city of Timbuktu
- The modern city Bamako
- The city of Cairo
- The city of Mecca
- Medina and Jerusalem (why do you think you should know these specific places?)
- The Arabian Peninsula
Study the visual sources below and think of how these link with the sub-sections studied in class:
Islam
The city of Timbuktu
Our two most important sources of evidence about Timbuktu comes from Leo Africanus and Ibn Bantuta. Check out the following links to find out more about these fascinating travellers:
Much of Timbuktu (the buildings, mosques and manuscripts) have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. UNESCO is a branch of the United Nations that focus expanding knowledge and preserving the past. Want to know more about the UN, UNESCO and the World Heritage List? Check out these videos.
Much of Timbuktu (the buildings, mosques and manuscripts) have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. UNESCO is a branch of the United Nations that focus expanding knowledge and preserving the past. Want to know more about the UN, UNESCO and the World Heritage List? Check out these videos.
Do you want to learn more about the timbuktu manuscripts? The following website will help:
The following Article from the Dekat (june 2007) magazine is quite useful
- please note it is in Afrikaans.
timboektoe.pdf | |
File Size: | 757 kb |
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