TWO MUSLIM EMPIRES: MALI AND DELHI

MALI
1200-1500

DELHI
1206-1526

Western Sub-Saharan Africa

India

Dates
Regions

Founding

Founded by indigenous African dynasty

that adopted Islam through peaceful
means
Sundiata defeated Sumanguru (leader of
Takrur kingdom) to create the Mali empire

Government
System

Islamic administration
Generally peaceful, with an Islamic legal
system

Economy and
Trade

Society

Relied upon trans-Saharan route

Controlled gold fields of Niger
Control of gold and copper trades
Contact with N. African Muslim traders
(due to religious contacts)
Extremely rich
Sent slaves to N. Africamany specially
trained
Multiple wives and concubines (harems)
Slavery
Huge social difference between ruler and
ruled, but literacy promoted
Showed signs of syncretism of Islam and

Founded by invading Turkish and Afghan

Muslims
Violent attacks against Hindu and Buddhist
templestook women for harems, stoke
from temples and killed thousands of
Indians
Consolidated power through military
expeditions
Islamic administration
Became more peaceful over time. Granted
protection to conquered in return for a tax
Relied on terror to keep subjects
submissive
Created bureaucracy and centralized
political authority in India
Not as much trade (not dependent upon it
like Mali)
Efforts to improve agriculture
Efforts to establish a common currency

Included mixes of peopleTurkish adventurers

and other Muslims conquerors
Uneasy b/c of hatred by Hindus
One woman (Raziya) was designated heir to the
throne but only rule 4 years (people didnt trust
a woman)

MALI
older tribal religions (women werent
veiled)
Scholars held high place in societybooks
hugely valued

DELHI

Technology

Internal threats

External threats

Role of Islam

Incompetent rulers (Mansa Suleimans

successors)
Rebellions amongst various groups within

Wealth attracted attackers

Tuareg (Berber people) retook Timbuktu in
1433
By 1500, Mali had last much of its territory

Spread through generally peaceful means

mostly trade contact
Mansa Masus pilgrammage to Mecca in
1324showed off Malis wealth and
brought attention to the kingdom
Masu built new mosques and opened
Quranic schools
Fostered trade contacts with other Islamic
areas
After decline of Mali, central Sudan citystates and empire adopted Islam and
official religion
Associated with the spread of literacy in
region

Network of spies, high taxes, brutality

Slavery
Female status determined by close-related
male

Used crossbows and iron stirrups in

conquest of India
Introduces papermaking to India
Harsh military reprisals to put down
rebellions
Personal and religious rivalries amongst
Muslim elite
Discontent of Hindus
Bengal broke off to empire
Mongol threats from NE
1398 Mongol leader Timur captured the city
of Delhileft the next year with thousands
of captive and large amount of pillage
ruined the city
Initial suppression of Hinduism
Sometimes religiously tolerant, other time
continued oppression (especially w/ high
taxes)
Acquired a permanent place in South Asia
Buddhism virtually destroyed in India

MALI

Decline

Cities along the upper Niger survived the

collapse
Trade and intellectual life moved to other
African states in central Sudan

DELHI

Muslim nobles created Bahmani Kingdom and

Hindus created Vijayanagar Empire which split
the Delhi Sultanate