Chapter 6: The Mali Empire: Origin, Nature, and Impact

This module examines the Old Mali Empire within the context of ancient and medieval African history. The Old Mali Empire should not be confused with the modern Mali, even though modern Mali derives its name from the Old Mali Empire. Students should carefully study D.T. Niane, Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali and develop some ideas on the rise of Old Mali, the evolution of Old Mali, the nature of Old Mali society, and the decline of the empire. What were the major achievements of the Old Mali Empire? What is Old Mali remembered for? What are its legacies?

Students should read at least one article each on Old Ghana, Old Mali, and Songhay. The materials include the following:

1. Readings:

• Patrick J. Munson, “Archaeology and the Prehistoric Origins of the Ghana Empire,” The Journal of African History, 1980, Vol. 21, No. 4 (1980), pp. 457-466: https://www-jstor-org.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu/stable/pdf/182004.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A251e388ccf6552dcff1625d37fe5b4b2&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&origin=&initiator=search-results&acceptTC=1
• Daniel McCall and Reed F. Stewart, “Reconstructing Early Mande Civilizations: Ghana and Mali,” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research. Supplementary Studies, No. 20, Reconstructing Complex Societies: An Archaeological Colloquium (1974), pp. 41-48, Reconstructing Early Mande Civilizations: Ghana and Mali (csuohio.edu)
• Pekka Masonen and Humphrey J. Fisher, “Not Quite Venus from the Waves: The Almoravid Conquest of Ghana in the Modern Historiography of Western Africa,” History in Africa, 1996, Vol. 23 (1996), pp. 197-232: https://www-jstor-org.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu/stable/pdf/3171941.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A0e3cd1701fc5e22c0aaeef83de8fba80&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&origin=&initiator=search-results&acceptTC=1
• D.T. Niane’s book, Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali [This book is available as hard copy at the CSU Bookstore; two copies are at the CSU Library reserve at: https://scholar.csuohio.edu/record=b3670270; and it is also partially available online at: https://www.scarsdaleschools.k12.ny.us/cms/lib5/NY01001205/Centricity/Domain/202/Sundiata.pdf. There is no complete copy of the book online. Students can also access the hard copy of the book at the library. There are 2 copies of the book on reserve in the library].
• Jan Jansen, “Beyond the Mali Empire—A New Paradigm for the Sunjata Epic,” The International Journal of African Historical Studies, Vol. 51, No. 2 (2018), pp. 317-340: https://www-jstor-org.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu/stable/pdf/45176442.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A0e3cd1701fc5e22c0aaeef83de8fba80&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&origin=&initiator=search-results&acceptTC=1
• Shoichiro Takezawa and Mamadou Cisse, “Discovery of the Earliest Royal Palace in Gao and its Implications for the History of West Africa (Découverte du premier palais royal à Gao et ses implications pour l’histoire de l’Afrique de l’Ouest),” Cahiers d’Études Africaines, 2012, Vol. 52, Cahier 208 (2012), pp. 813-844
• Dierk Lange, “From Mande to Songhay: Towards a Political and Ethnic History of Medieval Gao,” The Journal of African History , 1994, Vol. 35, No. 2 (1994), pp. 275-301: https://www-jstor-org.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu/stable/pdf/183220.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A1e15f39a51da39704c6eb56e3f354be0&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&origin=&initiator=&acceptTC=1
• Lansiné Kaba, “The Pen, the Sword, and the Crown: Islam and Revolution in Songhay Reconsidered, 1464-1493,” The Journal of African History , 1984, Vol. 25, No. 3 (1984), pp. 241-256: https://www-jstor-org.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu/stable/pdf/181691.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A268e71c8c8b24c3dde4ae4444c3595df&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_phrase_search%2Fcontrol&origin=&initiator=&acceptTC=1

2. Video:

• The Sunjata Story – Glimpse of a Mande Epic, The Sunjata Story – Glimpse of a Mande Epic – YouTube