The Empire of Mali - An Empire of Trade and Faith - Extra History - Part 2

Summary

In 1352, Ibn Battuta embarked on a perilous journey across the Sahara, chronicling the Mali Empire's trade routes in his book 'The Travels.' Despite cultural clashes and a partially Islamic society, his observations reveal Mali's wealth from gold and salt trade, its religious tolerance, and the empire's strategic preservation of its resources and traditions.

Takeaways

• 🧳 Ibn Battuta embarked on a perilous journey across the Sahara in 1352, seeking to secure a judicial appointment and explore the Mali Empire.
• 🏺 The Mali Empire was renowned for its wealth, largely due to its control over trans-Saharan trade routes and gold production.
• 🌍 Ibn Battuta's travels took him from the Islamic world's northern edge to the heart of Mali, witnessing the empire's vast trade network firsthand.
• 🛣️ The trans-Saharan trade was vital for the Mali Empire, with goods like textiles, books, and jewelery exchanged for gold, which was essential for the economy.
• 🐫 Caravans faced numerous challenges, including harsh desert conditions, the risk of banditry, and the need for precise navigation to find water sources.
• 🏰 Oualata, the first oasis city of the Mali Empire, was a significant checkpoint where caravans declared their goods and paid taxes.
• 🕌 Islam was present in Mali, but it coexisted with traditional African religions, creating a unique blend of cultural and religious practices.
• 👳‍♂️ Ibn Battuta, as an Islamic scholar, was often critical of the Mali Empire's deviations from strict Islamic law and customs.
• 🏰 The Mali Empire was a melting pot of cultures, with a ruling class that practiced Islam but also maintained strong ties to traditional African beliefs and practices.
• 🌐 Mali's strategic control over gold production and trade routes allowed it to maintain a strong economy and influence in the region.

Q & A

Who is the main character in the script and what is his historical significance?

The main character in the script is Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan scholar and explorer who is historically significant for his extensive travels across the Islamic world, which he later documented in his book 'The Travels', providing a unique eyewitness account of the Mali Empire.

What challenges did Ibn Battuta face during his travels?

Ibn Battuta faced numerous challenges including shipwrecks, kidnappings by rebels, and detention by a mad sultan. He also crossed Arabia during the height of the Black Plague and had to endure the harsh conditions of the Sahara Desert.

What was the significance of the year 1352 in the context of the script?

In 1352, Ibn Battuta began his journey with the hope of securing a judicial appointment, which would lead him to witness the Mali Empire's trans-Saharan trade routes and contribute to his comprehensive account of the empire in his book 'The Travels'.

What was the role of Mansa Musa in attracting scholars to the Islamic world?

Mansa Musa, who had been dead for 50 years by 1352, was known for his golden pilgrimage train, and his legacy continued to draw scholars to the Islamic world's richest empire, including Ibn Battuta.

What was the primary trade item that Mali exported and why was it so valuable?

The primary trade item that Mali exported was gold, which was valuable due to its demand from Islamic states and Christian Europe. Mali produced around two-thirds of the world's supply of gold, making it a cornerstone of their economy.

How did the Mali Empire maintain its trade routes and security?

The Mali Empire maintained its trade routes and security through a strong and capable military that enforced taxes and ensured banditry did not endanger the trade routes. They also had a fair and disciplined justice system.

What was the cultural and religious landscape of the Mali Empire as described in the script?

The Mali Empire was partially converted to Islam, with the religion being more prevalent among merchants and the ruling class. The working class still practiced traditional African religions. There was a fusion of Islamic practice with native traditions to maintain social cohesion.

Why was Ibn Battuta's experience with the local scholars and judges in the Mali Empire disappointing for him?

Ibn Battuta was disappointed because he found that even the Islamic upper class in the Mali Empire did not abide by Muslim laws about gender relations, and the local scholars and judges did not meet his expectations of Islamic piety and adherence to Islamic law.

What was the significance of the salt trade in the Mali Empire's economy?

The salt trade was significant because salt was used to preserve food and was essential for the survival of the gold miners in the rainforests where no naturally occurring salt existed. Malian traders bought salt and took it south to sell, which was crucial for their economy.

How did the Mali Empire handle the presence of foreigners and their access to the gold mines?

The Mali Empire intentionally kept foreigners away from its gold mines, which were its most precious resource. They brought gold to trading hubs for exchange rather than exposing the location of their mines, as a measure of state security.

What was Ibn Battuta's final impression of the Mali Empire, particularly regarding its generosity and wealth?

Ibn Battuta's final impression was mixed. While he admired the empire's piety and the security within its borders, he was disturbed by the cultural and religious deviations from what he expected of an Islamic society. His experience with the welcome gift from the emperor, which was meager compared to what he anticipated, further highlighted his disillusionment with the empire's legendary wealth and generosity.

Outlines

00:00

🐫 Ibn Battuta's Journey to Mali Empire

The video script narrates the adventures of Ibn Battuta, a 14th-century traveler who embarked on a journey across the Sahara in 1352. Despite facing numerous challenges such as shipwrecks, kidnappings, and the Black Plague, he was determined to explore the Mali Empire, known for its wealth and the legacy of Mansa Musa's golden pilgrimage. His journey began with joining a Berber caravan at an oasis city on the northern edge of the Sahara, filled with merchants and diverse trade goods. Battuta's observations and experiences provide a unique eyewitness account of the Mali Empire's trans-Saharan trade routes, which were instrumental in its prosperity. His travels included stops at a salt mine where enslaved people labored, and the first Mali oasis city, Oualata, where he interacted with local scholars and observed the blending of Islamic and traditional African cultures.

05:02

🌐 Cultural and Religious Insights of Mali Empire

In the second paragraph, the script delves into the cultural and religious practices of the Mali Empire as observed by Ibn Battuta. He noted the partial conversion to Islam, with the religion being more prevalent among the merchant and ruling classes, while the working class adhered to traditional African religions. The empire's rulers had to balance Islamic practices with native traditions to maintain social cohesion. Battuta, expecting a more orthodox Islamic society, was often judgmental and critical of the local customs, such as the lack of veiling for women and the absence of certain Islamic laws. Despite his criticisms, he acknowledged the empire's piety, the emphasis on Quranic education, and the secure and well-regulated nature of the state. His journey continued to the capital, where he was further surprised by the influence of African religion and culture at the court. The script also touches on Mali's economic strategy, including the protection of its gold mines and the development of Timbuktu as a trade hub.

Keywords

💡Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta was a 14th-century Moroccan scholar and explorer who is renowned for his extensive travels across the Islamic world. In the video, he embarks on a journey to Mali, hoping to secure a judicial appointment. His experiences and observations provide a unique perspective on the Mali Empire, its trade routes, and cultural practices. His journey and subsequent writings, 'The Travels,' offer a firsthand account of the Mali Empire, which is a central theme of the video.

💡Sahara

The Sahara is the world's largest hot desert, stretching across much of North Africa. In the video, Ibn Battuta crosses the Sahara as part of his journey to Mali, highlighting the harsh and challenging environment that traders and travelers faced. The desert serves as a backdrop for the story, illustrating the resilience and determination required to traverse such a landscape and engage in trans-Saharan trade.

💡Trans-Saharan trade routes

Trans-Saharan trade routes were ancient trade networks that connected sub-Saharan Africa with the Mediterranean and North African regions. The video discusses how these routes facilitated the exchange of goods like gold, salt, textiles, and books, which were vital to the economic prosperity of the Mali Empire. The trade routes are central to understanding the wealth and influence of Mali during the time of Ibn Battuta's travels.

💡Mansa Musa

Mansa Musa was the 14th-century emperor of the Mali Empire, known for his pilgrimage to Mecca, which showcased his immense wealth and had a lasting impact on the Islamic world. Although he had been dead for 50 years at the time of Ibn Battuta's journey, as mentioned in the video, his legacy continued to draw scholars and traders to Mali. His story serves as a symbol of Mali's golden age and the allure of its wealth.

💡Islamic world

The Islamic world, as referenced in the video, encompasses the regions and communities where Islam is the predominant religion. Ibn Battuta's travels took him across this vast area, from China to Spain, and his experiences in the Mali Empire provide insights into the cultural and religious exchanges that occurred within the Islamic world. The video uses the term to highlight the interconnectedness of the regions and the spread of Islamic culture and trade.

💡Oasis city

An oasis city is a settlement that exists due to the presence of water in a desert environment. In the video, Ibn Battuta's first stop is an oasis city on the northern edge of the Sahara, which is described as a bustling hub of merchants and cargo shipments. Oasis cities were crucial for trade and travel in desert regions, providing necessary resources and rest for caravans crossing the Sahara.

💡Salt trade

The salt trade was a significant economic activity in the Mali Empire, as highlighted in the video. Salt was mined in the desert and traded for gold, which was vital for the survival of the gold miners in the rainforests where natural salt was scarce. The video illustrates how the salt trade was an essential part of the economic exchange that sustained the Mali Empire's wealth.

💡Cultural clash

Cultural clash refers to the conflict or misunderstanding that can arise when different cultures interact. In the video, Ibn Battuta experiences a cultural clash in Mali, where he encounters practices that deviate from the Islamic norms he is accustomed to, such as unveiled women and different gender relations. This clash is a significant aspect of the video's narrative, demonstrating the complexity of cultural interactions and the challenges of imposing one's own cultural standards on others.

💡Religious tolerance

Religious tolerance is the acceptance and respect for diverse religious beliefs and practices. The video describes how the Mali Empire was partially converted to Islam but maintained a high degree of religious tolerance, allowing for the coexistence of Islamic and traditional African religions. This tolerance is exemplified by the Malians' adherence to certain Islamic practices while also preserving their cultural traditions, showcasing the empire's pluralistic society.

💡Timbuktu

Timbuktu is a historic city in present-day Mali, known for its role as a center of learning and trade during the medieval period. In the video, Ibn Battuta travels to Timbuktu, which is depicted as a developing hub for trade between the desert caravans and river traffic. The city's mention in the video underscores its historical significance and its role in the Mali Empire's economic and cultural exchange.

Highlights

Ibn Battuta, a traveler from the Islamic world, embarked on a journey across the Sahara in 1352.

He aimed to secure a judicial appointment in the Mali Empire, known for its wealth.

Ibn Battuta documented his experiences, providing a unique eyewitness account of the Mali Empire.

The Mali Empire's trans-Saharan trade routes were instrumental in its prosperity.

Salt was a crucial commodity, traded for gold and essential for the survival of gold miners.

The Mali Empire had a strong military to protect its trade routes and ensure tax collection.

Ibn Battuta observed a high degree of religious tolerance and a blend of Islamic and traditional African practices.

Mali's rulers had to balance Islamic law with traditional customs to maintain social cohesion.

Ibn Battuta's expectations as an Islamic scholar often clashed with the cultural practices he encountered.

The Mali Empire was partially converted to Islam, with the working class still practicing traditional religions.

Ibn Battuta was surprised by the autonomy of women and the acceptance of gender mixing in Mali.

The Mali Empire's justice system was fair and disciplined, with a focus on protecting trade and foreign interests.

Mali's economy was heavily reliant on gold, producing a significant portion of the world's supply.

The Mali Empire intentionally kept its gold mines a secret to maintain control over its most valuable resource.

Ibn Battuta's journey along the Niger River revealed the diversity of Mali's exports, including ivory and enslaved people.

Despite his initial skepticism, Ibn Battuta came to admire the piety and security of the Mali Empire.

His experiences in Mali highlighted the empire's unique blend of Islamic and West African identities.

Transcripts

A man stands outside the city walls, looking into the desert.

For the last two decades, he has traveled across the Islamic world

from China to Andalusia, Spain.

Along the way, he had been shipwrecked, kidnapped by rebels and detained by a mad sultan.

The year before, he had crossed Arabia at the height of the Black Plague.

But this would be his gratest adventure:

a land so remote that few had seen it.

But those who did told of its magnificent wealth.

Ibn Battuta mounted his camel and prepared to cross the Sahara.

(music)

It was 1352.

And though Mansa Musa had been dead for 50 years,

stories of the king's golden pilgrimage train were still drawing scholars to the Islamic world's richest empire.

We know this because Ibn Battuta began his trip that year

with the simple hope of secureing the judicial appointment.

It would be a hard journey, but in accomplishing it,

Ibn Battuta would end up seeing almost the entirety of Mali's trans-Saharan trade routes,

a network that had made Mansa Musa so rich that, as we will see in the next episode,

he could give handfuls of gold to passers-by without a thought.

Ibn Battuta would later record this adventure in his epic book, the Travels

producing the only eye-witness account of the Mali Empire.

So, today we're going to follow him

letting his journey teach us about how trade built the realm.

Ibn Battuta's first stop was an oasis city on the northern edge of the Sahara.

Like all oasis towns, it was a riot of merchants and cargo shipments.

Its square was crammed with the trade goods of North Africa and the Mediterranean,

all going south to exchange for gold.

There were textiles, books, jewelery, perfume

and the cowry shells Malians exchanged as currency.

Herds of Arabian horses waited outside the walls.

Among the goods and caravans, Ibn Battuta found some Berber tradors,

the ethnic group that had controlled the trans-Saharan trade,

and he arranged to join their expedition.

They traveled in the early morning and late afternoon, resting during the noonday heat.

It took them 25 days to reach their first stop.

"It was a village", he wrote, "with nothing good about it".

It was a labor camp, an open-pit mine in the middle of the sand

where enslaved people carved blocks of rock salt out of the earth.

The water was brackish and both houses and mosques were built from salt

with stretched camel skin for a roof.

All food was imported on camel back.

But despite this desolation, he saw vast amounts of gold change hands.

Traders from Mali were buying salt in order to take it south to sell.

Ultimately, this salt would go deep into the rainforests

where no naturally occurring salt existed to help people retain water.

Without it, the gold miners would dehydrate and die.

After the caravan took on water and salt, they headed south.

The next stretch was 500 miles with only one oasis.

But the winter rain had been kind, and small pools sustained them.

Even so, death awaited.

One man from the caravan quarreled with his cousin and lagged behind to sulk.

They never saw him again.

When at last they arrived at the oasis,

they hired a scout for the final and most dangerous part of the journey.

See, no caravan could carry enough water to cross this last stretch of desert before Oualata.

So, they would hire a scout to go ahead of them

and contract a party to carry water 4 days north from the city

in order to meet them on route.

"But this stretch of waste", Ibn Battuta writes, "was haunted by demons that disordered men's minds".

If the scout was disoriented or killed, there would be no resupply

and the entire caravan would perish.

Yet the scout did not die and the party met them with the water.

Two long months after leaving the northern edge of the Sahara,

Ibn Battuta's caravan entered Oualata, the first oasis city of the Mali Empire.

the Berbers declare their goods to the tax officials and paid what was due.

Ibn Battuta was thrilled.

As an Islamic scholar, he loved to visit pious communities across the world

to gauge the spiritual health of the Muslim periphery and exchange ideas with scholars.

It had been towns like Oualata where Islam first appeared in Mali centuries before

carried on camel back via the Barber caravans.

Though Oualata was only a mud brick town of a few thousand people,

Ibn Battuta would finally meet his first local scholar there.

And that is when his enthusiasm crashed against the reality of religion in the Mali Empire.

See, Mali was actually only partially converted.

Islam was the religion of merchants and ruling class,

people with cultural, political or economic links to North Africa.

But the working people who farmed and mined the all important gold

still practiced traditional African religion.

Furthermore, many tenets of Islamic law were incompatible with Mali's culture,

so most Muslims ignored them.

The rulers of Mali had to walk a fine line

fusing Islamic practice with their native traditions in order to keep society together.

And, here's the thing about Ibn Battuta.

He was kind of the 14th century version of obnoxious tourist.

No matter where he went, he expected people to behave like they were Islamic scholars from Tangier.

And if they didn't, he got judgemental real quick.

And unfortunately, this trip to Mali shows Ibn Battuta at his worst.

The first problem occurred when he met the local governor.

As the representative of the sacred Mansa,

the man spoke to Ibn Battuta through a herald rather than directly,

which the traveler took as an insult.

And though the meal of yogurt and millet the governor served

was standard for welcoming guest to the Mali,

Ibn Battuta considered it insufficient for a man of his rank.

He had expected a monetary welcome gift like scholars received in much of the Islamic world.

But here, yogurt and honey? REALLY?

And the culture clash only got worse when he visited the local scholars and judges

and discovered that even the Islamic upper class didn't abide by Muslim laws about gender relations.

Here, even pious women went unveiled and women had a high degree of autonomy.

On one occasion, Ibn Battuta informed a scholar

that he'd seen the man's wife chatting with another man on the courtyard.

When the scholar patiently explained

that friendship between men and women was considered good conduct and engendered no suspicion,

The traveler was so horrified that he fled the house.

What troubled Ibn Battuta about these deviations was that he admired the empire's piety.

The people observed prayer times, kept scrupulously clean for mosque

and in a society where books were rare and expensive, insisted that children memorize the Quran.

Admittedly, they used methods that would be frowned upon today, but still.

And as he traveled toward the capital, he marveled at the country's security.

Once within the boundaries of the empire, he could travel alone without fear of bandits.

This was by design.

Mali possessed a strong capable military,

which existed mostly to enforce taxes

and ensure the banditry didn't endanger the all important trade routes.

According to Ibn Battuta, their justice system was fair and disciplined.

If a foreigner died in Mali, instead of pillaging the man's trade goods,

the government turned everything over to a trustee until the man's relatives claimed it.

However, upon reaching the capital,

Ibn Battuta was disturbed to find how deeply African religion and culture influenced the court.

Young women like the mansa's daughters walked about topless in the palace.

Festivals included folk dances and masked performances

that he considered absurd and pagan.

It rankled him that courtiers washed themselves with dust when the mansa spoke to them.

And that soldier stood in front of the emperor to tell their service in battle

while others twanged their bows to confirm that they had witnessed the heroic deed.

But he did finally get a welcome gift from the emperor.

Three bread cakes, a piece of beef and a calabash of sour curds.

At this, he burst out laughing.

"Wow, the Mansa's legendary generosity!"

"That's it. Screw this. Battuta out."

But, even Battuta's touristy reactions do tell us something interesting about Mali.

Due to its geographic separation, Mali had assimilated Islam

rather than been absorbed by it, creating a religeously tolerant, pluralistic society.

It was a proudly West African empire with its own identity.

And it wasn't going to just leave its traditions behind to adopt this new religion.

Indeed, Mali seems to have intentionally kept foreign influence at arm's length.

Ibn Battuta never got to visit the gold mines and that was intentional.

The Malian government kept foreigners away from its most precious resource

bringing gold to be exchanged at trading hubs rather than exposing the location of their mines.

It was state security.

Mali's economy ran on gold producing around two thirds of the world's supply

with its economy supported entirely by demand from Islamic states and christian Europe,

which had recently abandoned silver in favor of this fancy new metal.

But before he left, Ibn Battuta would have one more journey along the trade routes

east along the Niger River to the city of Timbuktu.

A developing hub between the desert caravans and river traffic.

He likely spent this trip amid a whole lot of exports Mali sent north along with its gold:

ivory, kola nuts, ostrich feathers, raisins and enslaved people.

And of course, the gold Ibn Battuta had finally received after complaining to the mansa's face.

As he watched the river slid by,

he no doubt thought back on the stories he heard in Cairo

about Mansa Musa's generousity and piety.

The unimaginable wealth of his pilgrimage train.

Had those just been tales this whole time?

Find out next week.