Collapse of the Mali empire - reasons for the rise

Why was Songhay reliant on Mali ?

it was a tributary state - only broke away in the 1430s

when did Mali’s power begin to decline?

1320s

why did mali’s power decline ?

• ill-defined rules of royal succession - led to civil wars

• trade routes opened up elsewhere - couldn’t compete

Who assisted the decline of Mali ?

Tuareg nomads - desert nomads who seized Timbuktu in 1433-34

Other than the Tuareg , who else attacked Mali ?

• Mossi and Songhay

the importance of the Sonnis grew in the C14th , where were they recognised as titleholders ?

Gao - still a tributary state to Mali though

Who was the most notable Sonni attacker on Mali ?

Sonni Mohammad Da’o (Alis predecessor )

• he brought back prisoners - weakness of Mali

how did the size of Mali weaken them ?

• they had to outsource military power

• military command was split between those in the North and South who also had officers and troops dispatched on raids

• meant that majority of infantry were slaves or from vassal States - tyranny and violation of rights

• increased resentment making it easier for Sonnis to prise Malians away to support Songhay rise

essenstially how did the collapse of Mali aid the rise of Songhay?

Mali left a vacuum that Songhay filled