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1465 BCE
Rise of the Songhai
The Songhai Empire began when the Songhai King took advantage of a weak part of Mali's Empire to gain control over more territory. Songhai group was muslim empire in West Africa. The Songhai citizens settled along the middle region near the Niger River. They used the river for transport, fishing, hunting, agriculture and trade. -
1400 BCE
Conquest Of Songhai Kingdom (Timbuktu)
Mansa Nusa lead one of the largest kingdoms. He conquered Timbuktu by building mosques in Timbuktu in order to get his sons back that were being held hostage in Timbuktu. Timbuktu turned into a very important commercial city within the West African Empire. It had caravan connections with Egypt and many other important trade routes/centers in North Africa. Conquering Timbuktu was an economically positive, it strengthened the economy and relations with other cities/countries within the empire. -
1350 BCE
Rise of the Jolof Empire
Mali’s power weakened and the desire of smaller states to break free of Musa Mansa’s rule to reap benefits of the gold and salt trade. The first to become independent were the Wolof. The result of this was that a relatively small group occupied the richest city and one of the major sources of imperial wealth. -
1324 BCE
Mansa Musa's Pilgrimage
Mansa Musa went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, the Muslim holy city. The pilgrimage introduced him to rulers in the Middle East, Europe and the world to the wealth in Mali. Musa was accompanied by thousands of escorts and the pilgrimage took years to prepare for. The goal of the pilgrimage was to advertise Mali and Mansa Musa well beyond the continent of Africa and expand the empire. -
Period: 1324 BCE to 1325 BCE
Mansa Musa's Pilgrimage
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1312 BCE
Mansa Musa Gains Power
Musa was given the name "Mansa," it means King. He became the emperor after Abu-Bakr II's death. Mansa Musa is considered the richest person in History. He is important to history because he divided the empire into provinces, established religious freedom and free and encouraged education. Musa conducted and had armies protect the gold mines and gold that was traded. Trade was a major factor in the sources of wealth for the West African Empire. -
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