West Africans needed salt.North Africans had salt.

North African nomads crossedthe Sahara desert to engagein trade with West Africans.

Of course, any kingdom strongenough to control this tradewas prosperous and powerful.

By 1240 A.D., the West Africankingdom of Mali had conqueredthe weakened kingdom of Ghana.

The kings of Mali brought the salt and gold minesunder their control.

The West African kingdom ofMali truly was “the land of gold”!

Of course, trade increasedcultural

diffusion as thereligion of Islam

enteredWest Africa along trade

routes.

Many West Africans convertedto Islam.

The kings of Mali were goodrulers but the greatest kingof Mali was Mansa Musa.

Mansa Musa was a piousMuslim and the most significant

king of Mali.

Mansa Musa established agreat center for learningin Timbuktu, the capital cityof Mali.

He encouraged learning andinvited Arab scholars to studyat his great university.

As a pious Muslim, Mansa Musamade a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Mansa Musa fulfilled an important obligation of Islamby making the pilgrimage to

Mecca.

Mansa Musa also fulfilledthe pillar of charity by

giving gold away on his journey.

Sadly, subsequent kings were not as capable as Mansa Musaand the empire declined after

his death.