Year 7 - History
The successful expansion of medieval Mali
Medieval West Africa: why was medieval Mali so successful?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the success of medieval Mali, with a focus on the second-order concept of causation. They build knowledge of the West African landscape and the role it played in Mali's rise. They will also learn about the rise of Islam in the region and Mansa Musa's pilgrimage.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to evaluate the different reasons for the growth of medieval Mali.
Key Notes
- Mali expanded throughout the Sahel during the 13th century.
- Mali used its superior army to conquer its neighbours, such as the Jolof in the west and the Songhai in the east.
- Mali had a successful governmental structure - it was a federation and the Mansa installed a farimba in each kingdom
- Mali's wealth was built on its access to gold and salt.
- The Malian elite used gold to enrich themselves and enhance the empire.
Vocabulary To Learn
- trade: trade means the exchange of goods
- federation: a federation is a country made up of individual states that have control over their own local matters, but are controlled by a central government
- Mansa: Mansa is the word used in the Mali Empire to refer to the king or emperor
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Successful empires dominate and subjugate the conquered people within the empire in order to keep them loyal.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Mali expanded throughout the Sahel during the 13th century. Mali used its superior army to conquer its neighbours, such as the Jolof in the west and the Songhai in the east.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'trade'
trade means the exchange of goods.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Successful empires dominate and subjugate the conquered people within the empire in order to keep them loyal. Correction: The Mali aristocracy adopted a successful 'hands off' approach to governance, allowing the different kingdoms within the empire a great degree of autonomy.
More Lessons In This Unit
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