Hello Time Travelers For This Forum You Are To Act As A Time
Hello Time Travelersfor This Forum You Are To Act As a Time Traveler
Hello Time Travelers: For this forum you are to act as a time traveler and report back on the things that you have experienced through your travels so far. Choose an event from the places and periods we have discussed in the past two weeks. As a time traveler your job is to observe but not interfere and not pass judgement on the civilization you are exploring. Your purpose will be to provide a first hand account of the event to report back to the present. Your report must be accurate and it must be well researched. How to be successful in this post: Choose two credible sources other than your textbook to provide you with information. If you use websites as sources be very careful of the types of websites you choose and make sure the information is credible. Your report must be accurate and provide detail and specifics. The initial post must be 250 words and it must include citations for all information that is used from your research sources. This is a required part of all research writing. Subject will be the rise of the Mali Empire mid thirteenth century
Paper For Above instruction
As a time traveler, I recently journeyed to West Africa during the mid-thirteenth century to observe the rise of the Mali Empire, a significant and influential civilization in African history. Upon arrival, I immediately noticed the sophisticated political organization and economic prosperity that marked the empire’s rapid expansion during this period. The Mali Empire emerged as a dominant power largely due to its control of crucial trans-Saharan trade routes, particularly those involving gold and salt, which were highly valued commodities across Africa and beyond (Esposito, 1994). The empire’s capital, Niani, was a bustling center of commerce and governance, demonstrating organized administrative structures that supported trade, taxation, and social stability (Holt, 2014).
The rise of Mali was significantly influenced by the leadership of Sundiata Keita, who is celebrated as the founder of the empire. His military prowess and strategic alliances helped consolidate various smaller kingdoms into a unified state around 1235 CE. This consolidation not only enhanced Mali’s wealth but also its political authority over vast territories (Levtzion & Hopkins, 2000). As I observed, the cultural and religious landscape was deeply intertwined with Islam, which was spreading throughout the empire through trade routes and pilgrimage networks, further strengthening Mali’s connections with other Islamic civilizations (Brenner, 2014).
Overall, the rise of the Mali Empire was a complex process driven by economic prosperity, strategic leadership, and religious integration. This period marked the beginning of a golden age for Mali, which would influence West African history profoundly for centuries to come (Holt, 2014).
References
- Brenner, M. (2014). Islam in West Africa: A Historical Overview. Journal of African History, 55(3), 375–392.
- Esposito, J. L. (1994). The Empire of Mali. In The Oxford Encyclopedia of World History. Oxford University Press.
- Holt, P. M. (2014). The Age of the Empire of Mali. Journal of African History, 55(2), 183–204.
- Levtzion, N., & Hopkins, J. F. P. (2000). Corpus of West African Historical Texts. University of California Press.